The Philippines is not ruling out possible Chinese island-building activity at Scarborough Shoal, Manila's Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. said on Thursday, as tensions escalate between the two nations over the contested South China Sea. Mr. Teodoro said China's repeated reference to Scarborough as huangyan Island may be a strategic narrative aimed to justify future island-building, as he urged stronger deterrence against such moves.

Basilio, K. C. L., Halili, A. H., & Hufana, C. M. A. (2025, October 24). Manila says it's not ruling out Chinese island-building at Scarborough Shoal. BusinessWorld, p. S1/10.