Manila, Philippines – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has highlighted the massive scale of China’s illegal construction on a reef within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone. Video footage shows that what China first claimed was a shelter for fishermen has now become one of the largest Chinese military installations in the entire South China Sea.

The PCG notes that whenever Philippine aircraft conduct Maritime Domain Awareness flights over the area, China challenges the flights by asserting “indisputable sovereignty” and, in some cases, even launching flares toward the aircraft.

The reef lies just 120 nautical miles from the coast of Palawan, yet over 600 nautical miles from China, emphasizing the audacity of the occupation, according to the PCG. The installation represents a significant military foothold deep inside the Philippine maritime zone, raising concerns over regional security and freedom of navigation.

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