The Philippine Navy (PN) is verifying the received reports that there are underwater structures in the contested area of Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippines Sea (WPS).

In a press briefing on Tuesday, October 14, Navy Spokesperson for WPS, Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad noted that the attempt by the Chinese Communist Party to build steel structures in the area has been successfully stopped by the Philippine Navy way back in 1997. 

He added that the previously reported sightings of building blocks in Bajo de Masinloc were placed as targets during the time when US Forces still had bases in the country.

It served as a bombing range for the US Air Force, the US Navy and the Philippine Air Force as well.

It can be recalled that Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian announced China’s intention to make Bajo de Masinloc a National Nature Reserve labeled as Huangyan Dao. 

This plan of China has been strongly protested by the Philippine government through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), pointing out that the Philippines is the only one that can put up marine protected areas in Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal.

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