South China Sea: Philippines Accuses China Of Preparing To Build On Scarborough Shoal

September 7, 2016 | 08:47 GMT

The Philippines released photos on Sept. 7 that it says show China preparing to begin island-construction activities on Scarborough Shoal, a major flashpoint in the territorial dispute between the two countries, AFP reported. The release of the images was timed to coincide with the beginning of the ASEAN summit in Laos, which is being attended by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. The images show Chinese ships that Manila says are capable of dredging sand and carrying out other land reclamation activities. The presence of the ships is a precursor to building activities on the shoal, a Philippines Defense Department spokesman said. Beijing said it has not begun any efforts to transform the shoal into another island, as it has done at several other reefs in contested areas of the South China Sea. The Philippines will continue to use a carrot-and-stick strategy toward China in the South China Sea, choosing not to play up its recent victory in the Permanent Court of Arbitration in order to reach a compromise.