Retired justice Antonio Carpio believes that China aims to complete its air and naval military base in Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal first before it agrees to any Code of Conduct in the South China (West Philippine) Sea. Carpio, during the recent international conference titled “Changing the World Order? China’s Long-Term Global Strategy,” sponsored by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung-Philippines, predicted that China would build a military base on Scarborough Shoal before President Rodrigo Duterte steps down in 2022. The Scarborough Shoal is being claimed by the Philippines and China.

Tamayo, B. E. (2019, November 25). China aims to finish bases in Scarborough - Carpio. The Manila Times, p. A3.