MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has been informed of reports about a new Chinese structure found inside the lagoon of Bajo de Masinloc and continues to favor diplomatic and legal steps in addressing tensions in the West Philippine Sea, Malacañang said Thursday.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the administration remains committed to resolving maritime disputes through a rules-based approach.
“The President is aware of this, and his clear position is to prioritize diplomatic and legal remedies in situations like this,” Castro said.
She added that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has already filed a diplomatic protest over the reported installation of a floating platform by China in the area.
“We continue to assert our rights and defend what is rightfully ours,” she said.
Castro also dismissed concerns that the Philippines is losing control of the shoal, saying Marcos remains firm in protecting national interests.
“The President will not allow that to happen. He is consistent in defending the interests of Filipinos in the West Philippine Sea,” she said.
The National Task Force-West Philippine Sea earlier confirmed the presence of a square floating structure inside the lagoon of Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Scarborough Shoal, following surveillance operations that also detected buoys and antennas.
The DFA has called the structure a violation of Philippine sovereignty and demanded its removal.
The issue adds to ongoing tensions in the West Philippine Sea, where Manila continues to protest China’s activities and cite the 2016 arbitral ruling rejecting Beijing’s expansive claims.
elamigo/xf
