The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF WPS) on Wednesday confirmed that a Chinese floating platform previously seen inside the lagoon of Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) has been removed following Philippine maritime patrols.
The task force said the development was verified through recent maritime domain awareness (MDA) operations conducted by Philippine authorities earlier in the day.
In a statement, the NTF WPS said it will sustain intensified patrols and surveillance activities in the area through the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, and other agencies to reinforce presence and security in the shoal.
It also reiterated its call for all foreign vessels and entities to respect international law and refrain from activities that infringe on Philippine sovereignty and jurisdiction.
“The Philippines remains fully committed to protecting its territorial integrity, upholding the rules-based international order, and defending its legitimate entitlements,” the task force said.
Authorities earlier filed a diplomatic protest after the floating platform was detected in the area in late May, triggering renewed tensions in the West Philippine Sea.
NTF WPS maintained that Bajo de Masinloc is an integral part of Philippine territory, citing long-standing administration, surveys, and historical records as basis for its position.
“The Philippines has indivisible, incontrovertible and longstanding sovereignty over BdM exercised through its continuous, uninterrupted sovereignty and jurisdiction,” it added.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported that its aerial maritime patrols observed the dismantling and removal of the platform by a Chinese research vessel identified as Yue Zhan Yu Ke 6.
During a maritime domain awareness flight on Tuesday, the PCG said the vessel was seen loading components of the structure onto its stern while being monitored and challenged for alleged illegal marine scientific research activities.
A follow-up patrol on Wednesday confirmed that the floating platform was no longer in the shoal, and the said vessel had also departed the area.
However, another Chinese research vessel, Yue Xia Yu Zhi 20028, was still observed in the vicinity, according to the PCG.
