MANILA –
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is determined to maintain a presence in a disputed area of the South China Sea to ensure that China does not carry out land reclamation activities at the Sabina Shoal, a spokesperson said on Monday.
The coast guard said on Saturday it had sent a ship to Sabina Shoal, where it accused China of building an artificial island, amid an escalating maritime row, adding that two other ships had been deployed to the area on rotation.
Since the ship’s deployment in mid-April, the Coast Guard said it has discovered piles of dead and crushed coral dumped on Sabina Shoal sandbars, changing their size and height.
