MANILA, April 28 – Malacañang is seeking to confirm a report that China will establish an outpost on the Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, which is 230 kilometers off the coast of the Philippines, a Palace official said on Wednesday.
“The alleged move of establishing an outpost within the EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone) of the Philippines came from a news report, which needs appropriate validation and confirmation,” Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said in a statement.
“The Philippines abides by the Declaration of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and the UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea). Thus, it is best that claimant states that are also signatories to those agreements, abide by its provisions,” Secretary Coloma said.
A Hong Kong newspaper recently cited a source close to the People’s Liberation Army as saying that China will build an outpost on the Scarborough Shoal. The Philippines claims the shoal as part of its EEZ. (PND)