LOOK: Alleged Chinese floating structure spotted in Bajo de Masinloc

Philippine authorities on Wednesday released photos of a movable floating platform allegedly deployed by China within Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for WPS Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela said the structure was first detected through satellite imagery and maritime domain awareness operations conducted in May.

“This is the photo of the movable floating platform that we are currently monitoring in Bajo de Basinloc. It has a deck area of approximately 30 square meters. Roughly, the dimensions are five meters to six to seven meters in length,” Tarriela said at a press briefing of the National Task Force for the WPS (NTF-WPS).

LOOK: The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) shares photo of alleged Chinese floating structure monitored in Bajo de Masinloc. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/6yjA1HMBO7

— Joviland Rita (@jovilandxrita) June 10, 2026

Timeline

On May 20, Tarriela said there was no visible man-made structure in satellite imagery.

From May 21 to 25, Chinese research vessels were detected near the area, as well as a possible initial deployment.

From May 26 to 30, Tarriela said the Philippines conducted surveillance flights and documented the platform, additional buoys, and suspected antenna installations.

On May 30, six Chinese personnel were seen on the platform and aerial harassment incidents involving Chinese military aircraft were also reported.

On May 31, the platform moved deeper into Bajo de Masinloc, reportedly assisted by Chinese vessels and personnel.

The structure appears to be equipped with metal supports that may allow it to be anchored or stabilized in a stationary position.

Diplomatic actions

Tarriela noted that Bajo de Masinloc lies within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), approximately 119 nautical miles from Zambales and around 500 nautical miles from Hainan, China.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) expressed concern over the presence of the floating platform, saying it violates Philippine sovereignty and jurisdiction, as well as international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 arbitral ruling on the South China Sea.

Due to this, the DFA said the Philippines has filed diplomatic protests and continues to call for the removal of the structure and cessation of similar activities in the area.

“We therefore urge China to withdraw and remove the platform and structures from Bajo de Masinloc. Cease similar actions that violate Philippine sovereignty and sovereign rights in and within the vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc,” DFA spokesperson for maritime affairs Deputy Assistant Secretary Rogelio Villanueva Jr. said.

“To this end, the Philippines has undertaken the appropriate diplomatic action including several demarches and a diplomatic protest to the People's Republic of China,” he added.

Patrols

Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will continue patrols and surveillance operations in the WPS to monitor developments and assert the country’s maritime rights.

“With this development in Bajo de Machinloc, the AFP will keep performing its mandate. We will continue patrolling the seas, flying the skies,” AFP spokesperson for WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said.

“In fact, it was a collaborative effort of the AFP and the Coast Guard to include BFAR that we were able to piece together the bigger picture of what is happening in Bajo de Masinloc,” he added. —VAL, GMA News