Philippines confirms “moving” structure on Bajo de Masinloc
The Philippines said it has confirmed that China built a “moving” structure on the disputed Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea, a clear violation of the 2002 informal code of conduct.
The floating structure spotted during a maritime awareness flight conducted by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) last May 28. Photo from PCG.
Joe M. Reyes | June 9, 2026
MANILA — The Philippines said it has confirmed that China built a “moving” structure on the disputed Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea, a clear violation of the 2002 informal code of conduct that prohibit such an activity.
In an interview during the launching of the TV show “Patriots”, Armed Forces chief of staff, General Romeo Brawner Jr said photos taken by an Air Force plane on a domain awareness flight photographed a structure near the mouth of Bajo de Masinloc.
“Based on the latest image taken by our Philippine Air Force that flew above Bajo de Masinloc, there were people on the top,” Brawner said.
“There were six people at that structure. We think it has an antenna.”
Brawner said the military has been sending planes to Scarborough Shoal to monitor developments after an earlier satellite image showed a structure at the shoal.
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro had also said there were “raw” reports that a permanent structure was put up on the shoal.
China has seized control of Bajo de Masinloc in 2012 after a three-month standoff wth the Philippines, prompting Manila to file an arbitration case before the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea (ITLOS).
In 2016, Manila won the arbitration case, nullifying China’s excessive nine-dash-line claim over almost the entire South China Sea, where $3 trillion of trade passes annually. (Also read:
Brawner said the military will not allow China to construct a permanent structure at the shoal.
“We will not allow an incident before to happen again, where a small structure was built and then later on it grew into an artificial island,” he added.
Brawner said he was referring to Mischief Reef where China initially built what it described as shelter for fishermen. The reef was later subjected to land reclamation and is now equipped with weapon systems.