The United States has seen Chinese activity around a reef only 200 kilometers off Zambales province that China seized from the Philippines nearly four years ago, that could be a precursor to more land reclamation in the disputed South China Sea, the US Navy chief said on Thursday. The head of US naval operations, Adm. John Richardson, expressed concern that an international court ruling expected in coming weeks on a case brought by the Philippines against China over its South China Sea claims could be a trigger for Beijing to declare an exclusion zone in the busy trade route. Richardson told Reuters the United States was weighing responses to such a move.

US fears Chinese buildup on Panatag. (2016, March 19). Philippine Daily Inquirer, pp. A1, A9.