The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said China’s ongoing marine scientific research activities in Scarborough Shoal may carry potential military applications, as Philippine authorities continue to closely monitor developments in the West Philippine Sea.
AFP Public Affairs Office chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad said the data gathered from marine research operations could be used for multiple purposes, including environmental, economic, and military applications.
“Any marine research conducted could provide information, an advantage information for one particular nation,” Trinidad said in a briefing at Camp Aguinaldo.
He added that information collected from the area may not be limited to scientific use alone, noting that such data can be repurposed for defense-related planning and operations.
“So all of these can be used either for economic, for the environment and even for military purposes… This particular information can be used for the military also,” he said.
The Philippine Navy said it first monitored the presence of a floating platform in Scarborough Shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc, about three weeks ago. The structure remains in the area, according to military updates.
The Philippine Coast Guard has described the activity as part of what it considers “illegal marine scientific research” being conducted by China in the disputed shoal, which has been under Chinese control since a 2012 standoff with Philippine vessels.
Navy spokesperson Capt. Marissa Martinez said the military is not rushing to draw conclusions about the intent behind the platform’s presence, noting that ongoing surveillance remains critical.
“It’s very hard to speculate as of now. That’s why your Armed Forces are continuing to monitor it,” Martinez said.
She added that the military is studying the movement and behavior of the floating platform, which she said will guide future operational decisions.
“It would be speculative if we would say already that it is for the construction of a certain structure, of a pier… That’s why your Armed Forces continue to conduct surveillance patrols, documenting it and reporting it,” she said.
The Philippine Coast Guard earlier reported that the platform had been observed being towed by a Chinese research vessel, based on aerial monitoring by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
Martinez confirmed that while the platform may have moved, it remains within the vicinity of Scarborough Shoal, underscoring the need for continued monitoring.
“Although it was reported that it was moved, it’s still within the vicinity,” she said.
She also said the AFP continues to track Chinese maritime presence in key areas of the West Philippine Sea, including Scarborough Shoal, Escoda Shoal, Pag-asa Island, and Ayungin Shoal.
From June 9 to 15, the military recorded 26 Chinese vessels operating in these areas, including Coast Guard and Navy ships.
At Scarborough Shoal alone, 14 Chinese vessels were monitored—comprising 10 Coast Guard ships and four Navy vessels. Five more vessels were observed at Escoda Shoal, while seven were tracked across Philippine-occupied features, including Pag-asa Island and Ayungin Shoal.
The AFP said continuous surveillance and documentation of maritime activities remain central to its operations, as tensions persist in strategic features of the West Philippine Sea.