The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday said the government is maintaining a “close watch” on developments in the South China Sea, as Manila awaits Beijing’s clarification on its reported plan to further build structures on the disputed Scarborough Shoal within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. China’s Foreign Ministry denied reports that China will begin preparatory work this year for an environmental monitoring station on the shoal. Philippine President Rodrigo R. Duterte has drawn flak over his remarks last Sunday, March 19, that he cannot stop China’s activities on Scarborough Shoal -- following a Chinese official’s statements, since revised, on Beijing’s planned installation of an environmental monitoring station in the disputed waters, which are 405 km from the Philippine island of Luzon and 2,659 km from China.

Cigaral, I. N. (2017, March 23). China denies designs on Scarborough Shoal. BusinessWorld, p. S1/11.