Philippines vows to block structures at Scarborough Shoal amid fears of Chinese expansion

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The Philippines has vowed to block any Chinese construction at Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea amidst fears Beijing is seeking to establish a permanent outpost. Satellite images have indicated a possible floating Chinese platform, exacerbating regional tensions.

A floating Chinese platform at Scarborough Shoal has revived fears in the Philippines that Beijing could be taking another incremental step towards turning one of the South China Sea’s most sensitive disputed features into a permanent outpost. The Armed Forces of the Philippines said on Tuesday it would not allow any structure to be built at the shoal, nearly three weeks after satellite images first showed a possible floating platform there. “We are not allowing that to happen. We’re not...