China has started dredging around the disputed Mischief Reef in the South China Sea, a Philippine navy commander said on Thursday, signaling Beijing may be preparing to expand its facilities in the area. Rear Admiral Alexander Loez, commander of the Philippine military' Western Command, told reporters a Chinese dredging ship was spotted at Mischief Reef, about 135 km southeast of the island of Palawan. The Department of Foreign Affairs, meanwhile, has filed two diplomatic protests against China's alleged harassment of Filipino fishermen off Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) last month and its illegal harvest of endangered species in the area.

Hachero, A., & Reyes, V. (2015, February 6). China starts dredging another reef: military. Malaya, p. B6.