Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Bianca Dava

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178106760018220260610050652_1eee8d5b9bc4433e2c3f573e12d79bf3bfef396539477da89761ec8a1321314f (1).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The floating structure earlier confirmed by authorities is seen inside the lagoon of Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal in the West Philippine Sea. <em>PCG photo via Bianca Dava, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA <strong>(UPDATE) </strong> — The Philippine Coast Guard on Wednesday offered details surrounding the detection of a Chinese &quot;floating structure&quot; seen inside the lagoon of Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/9/afp-chief-confirms-moving-structure-in-lagoon-of-bajo-de-masinloc-0006">AFP chief confirms moving structure in lagoon of Bajo de Masinloc</a></div><p>In a briefing, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Jay Tarriela, said the first indication of the structure was recorded on May 25 through satellite imagery. </p><p>The photo of the structure, taken during a recent maritime domain awareness flight of the PCG, was shown in the news conference.</p><p>On May 26, a maritime domain awareness (MDA) flight conducted by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources verified the presence of the structure near the southeast entrance of Bajo de Masinloc. A PCG MDA flight conducted on May 28 confirmed the structure. </p><p>The PCG also monitored a People’s Liberation Army (PLA) helicopter operating in the vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc. The following day, a buoy was seen on the northern part of the shoal. Two Chinese vessels were also observed operating inside the shoal. </p><p>Another PCG MDA flight conducted on May 30 monitored six individuals aboard the structure. The PCG also saw an antenna newly installed on a rock near the entrance of the shoal. A PLA fighter jet intercepted the PCG MDA flight, Tarriela said.</p><p>According to the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea, the floating structure moved from the entrance to inside Bajo de Masinloc on May 31 and it was supported by two boats. Maritime forces also found a buoy, an unidentified floating object, and an antenna structure in the vicinity of the shoal.</p><div><strong>PROTEST</strong></div><p>The Philippines said on Tuesday it has filed a formal protest with China over a &quot;floating structure&quot; spotted near the disputed Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal, the site of repeated clashes in the South China Sea.</p><p>Scarborough Shoal lies 240 kilometers (150 miles) west of the Philippines&#x27; main island of Luzon and nearly 900 kilometers from Hainan, the nearest major Chinese land mass.</p><p>China claims almost the entirety of the South China Sea despite a 2016 court ruling that said its claims had no basis in international law.</p><p>Beijing revealed plans in September to create a &quot;nature reserve&quot; at Scarborough, prompting Manila&#x27;s former national security adviser Eduardo Año to call it a &quot;clear pretext towards eventual occupation.&quot;</p><div><strong>FROM SATELLITE DETECTION TO AERIAL VALIDATION</strong></div><p>PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela said monitoring began with satellite imagery showing no installations in the area as of May 20.</p><p>By May 21, authorities observed two Chinese research vessels near the shoal.</p><p>“We are suspecting that these two Chinese research vessels are those responsible in bringing the platform in the entrance of southeast of Bajo de Masinloc,” Tarriela told reporters.</p><p>By May 25, commercial satellite imagery showed a square object near the southeastern entrance of the lagoon, later confirmed by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) on May 26 through a maritime domain awareness (MDA) flight.</p><p>A PCG aerial patrol on May 28 further validated the structure’s presence.</p><p>“This was the first indication that there was a structure at the opening of Bajo de Masinloc,” Tarriela said.</p><p>“When we first saw this, it is anchored or it is floating during that time,” he added.</p><div><strong>FLOATING STRUCTURE AND ANTENNA INSTALLATION</strong></div><p>Tarriela described the platform as a movable floating structure measuring about five to seven meters, with a deck area of approximately 30 square meters.</p><p>He added that the structure is surrounded by fenders and appears equipped with metal poles at its corners.</p><p>“We believe that these are metal stilts that are being used every time that this platform is going to be placed stationary in one particular location,” Tarriela said.</p><p>By May 30, authorities documented six individuals aboard the structure.</p><p>“We were able to document the presence of six personnel, six Chinese nationals standing on the deck of the movable platform,” he said.</p><p>Authorities also observed the installation of an antenna on a nearby rock formation.</p><p>“We also documented a Chinese rubber boat installing an antenna in one of the rocks near the entrance of Bajo de Masinloc,” Tarriela said.</p><p>On May 31, the platform was moved further inside the lagoon, supported by two Chinese service boats.</p><p>“We think there are like 12 to 15 Chinese personnel who were on board these service boats an the platform while they were doing the intention to move the platform from the entrance to inside the shoal,” the official noted.</p><div><strong>AERIAL ENCOUNTERS WITH CHINESE MILITARY AIRCRAFT</strong></div><p>The PCG reported repeated encounters with Chinese military aircraft during MDA flights.</p><p>“We did a low altitude flight to make sure that we [would] be able to capture and document the movable platform. While we were doing the MDA flight, a PLA (People’s Liberation Army) Navy helicopter also intercepted or tried to harass the Philippine Coast Guard aircraft,” Tarriela said of the May 28 operation.</p><p>The May 30 flight encountered a more escalated response.</p><p>“We were not just harassed by a PLA Navy helicopter. The Chinese government decided to send a fighter jet to harass and bully the Philippine Coast Guard aircraft while we [were] conducting this routine MDA flight,” the official added.</p><div><strong>MARINE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ANGLE</strong></div><p>Authorities said the presence of Chinese research vessels suggests possible marine scientific activity, although the exact purpose of the structure remains unclear.</p><p>“Definitely, we still don’t know what they’re conducting. But I would like to believe that the Chinese research vessels’ presence is the reason why they have a platform there,” Tarriela said.</p><p>NMC spokesperson Undersecretary Alexander Lopez noted that while scientific activity is possible, authorities cannot yet determine what data is being collected.</p><p>“Based on our monitoring and assessment, based on all the activities we do, we are quite sure that these are all data gathering,” Lopez said.</p><p>“But let us not be speculative. The only entity we can confirm is China. So, again, that will be part of our monitoring and close assessment. Whatever they do, rest assured, we are on top of it,” he added.</p><div><strong>NO DREDGING OR RECLAMATION ACTIVITY DETECTED</strong></div><p>The NTF-WPS stressed there is no evidence of dredging or reclamation activity in the area.</p><p>“As of this time, there are no dredging vessels that we monitor within Bajo de Masinloc,” Tarriela said.</p><p>Nevertheless, officials acknowledged concerns that the Chinese activities could become a precursor to more permanent installations, recalling how structures in other areas in the West Philippine Sea—for example, Zamora Reef or Subi Reef, and Panganiban Reef or Mischief Reef—evolved over time.</p><p>“The nightmare of Mischief Reef is still there. That’s why the position of our government, the president, we will not lose even a square inch of our territory,” Lopez said. “The Philippines will do everything based on international law, diplomacy, and our national interests.”</p><div><strong>DIPLOMATIC PROTESTS AND DEMARCHES FILED</strong></div><p>The DFA has filed diplomatic protests and demarches to the People’s Republic of China over the presence of the floating structure and related activities.</p><p>“The DFA expresses its concern over the presence of a semi-permanent floating platform and structures within and in the vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc,” DFA spokesperson for maritime affairs Deputy Assistant Secretary Rogelio Villanueva Jr. said.</p><p>“The continued presence of the semi-permanent floating platform without consent or authorization is not only a violation of the sovereignty and jurisdiction of the Philippines,” Villanueva added.</p><p>The official said the activity is inconsistent with international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the 2016 arbitral ruling, and China’s commitments under the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.</p><p>The DFA urged China to withdraw and remove the structures from Bajo de Masinloc, and cease from conducting similar actions that violate Philippine sovereignty and sovereign rights.</p><p>“The department will continue to assert the Philippines’ sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea,” the DFA said. <strong>—With a report from Agence France-Presse </strong></p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9hXLupzFui8?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The Philippine Coast Guard on Wednesday offered details surrounding the detection of a Chinese "floating structure" seen inside the lagoon of Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.</p>

The Philippine Coast Guard on Wednesday offered details surrounding the detection of a Chinese "floating structure" seen inside the lagoon of Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.

PCG gives details on Chinese 'floating structure' seen near Bajo de Masinloc

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Nation

PCG gives details on Chinese 'floating structure' seen near Bajo de Masinloc

Bianca Dava,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 10, 2026 01:01 PM PHT

|

Updated June 10, 2026 05:17 PM PHT

Read More:

Philippine Coast Guard

Scarborough Shoal

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.