MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday said it is closely monitoring a Chinese floating platform near Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, warning that marine research and survey activities could have military applications and should not be viewed as purely scientific or environmental work.
AFP public affairs chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad said data gathered through marine research could be used for various purposes, including military operations.
“Any marine research conducted could provide information, an information advantage for one particular mission,” Trinidad said during a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo. “All of these can be used either for economic, environmental and even military purposes.”
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The remarks came amid continued monitoring of a Chinese movable floating platform reported near Panatag, a key feature in the West Philippine Sea where Beijing maintains presence despite a 2016 international arbitral ruling that invalidated its expansive claims.
Philippine Navy spokesperson Capt. Marissa Martinez said the AFP continues to monitor, document and report developments around the shoal while coordinating with other government agencies under a whole-of-government approach.
“Based on the 2016 arbitral ruling, it has ruled on it already that we assert our rights in that area,” Martinez said. “Your AFP continues to monitor it, document it and report it.”
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The structure was first monitored by Philippine authorities on May 25.
Authorities documented the structure during maritime domain awareness flights conducted by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the Philippine Coast Guard.
The platform, which officials described as a movable floating structure, has an estimated deck area of about 30 square meters and is equipped with four metal stilts that could allow it to remain stationary at specific locations.
Martinez declined to speculate on the purpose of the platform, including suggestions that it could be a prelude to dredging, construction of a pier or anchorage facilities.
“It would be speculative if we would say already that it is for the construction of a certain pier,” she said, adding that the military is still studying and investigating the platform’s movements and activities.
She noted that although the platform was reportedly moved, it remains within the vicinity of Panatag Shoal and continues to be monitored by Philippine forces.
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“There was a report on the towing of a particular item also, so the movements of China are being monitored by the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” Martinez said.
Asked about reports that the platform could be equipped with an echo sounder or other surveying equipment, Trinidad said the AFP would not make assumptions without further validation.
“There are lots of assumptions that we could draw out from this one,” he said. “But rest assured, the AFP will not stop documenting.”
Trinidad pointed to China’s activities at Mischief Reef in the 1990s, when structures initially described as shelters later expanded into a major military installation.
“We will not let the same incident happen as in 1995 in Mischief Reef, when it was reported as a simple shelter and then later on became a military base,” he said.
AFP officials declined to discuss the military’s specific monitoring capabilities, citing operational security concerns, and referred broader policy questions on Scarborough Shoal to the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea. /dl
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