China to build fake island in Bajo de Masinloc within 2016

From Update.Ph (Apr 25): China to build fake island in Bajo de Masinloc within 2016

China is going to build another fake island in West Philippine Sea, this time in Bajo de Masinloc also known as Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal. China may also build an airstrip in this soon to be fake island.

“Beijing will take action to carry out land reclamation at Huangyan Island within this year,” Hong Kong based newspaper South China Morning Post quotes a source.

“China should regain the initiative to do so because Washington is trying to contain Beijing by establishing a permanent military presence in the ­region.”

Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) is a ring-shaped coral reef, which has several rocks encircling a lagoon. About five of these rocks are above water during high tide. Of these five rocks, some are about 3 meters high above water. The rest of the rocks and reefs are below water during high tide.

The basis of Philippine sovereignty and jurisdiction over the rock features of Bajo de Masinloc is distinct from that of its sovereign rights over the larger body of water and continental shelf.

Bajo de Masinloc is located approximately at latitude 15°08′N and longitude 117°45′E. It is approximately 124 NM off the nearest coast of the Philippine province of Zambales. Clearly, the rock features of Bajo de Masinloc are within the 200-NM EEZ and CS of the Philippine archipelago.

http://www.update.ph/2016/04/china-to-build-fake-island-in-bajo-de-masinloc-within-2016/4682