Philippines’ Threat of New South China Sea Structure Inflames Beijing

File image of the the grounded Philippine navy ship BRP Sierra Madre where marines are stationed to assert Manila's territorial claims at Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands in the disputed South China Sea. Ted ALJIBE / AFP

China is lashing out at signals that the Philippines may be set to build a structure in what Beijing considers the most sensitive part of the South China Sea between the two countries.

The developments are a potentially dangerous new step in what has been a year of ongoing confrontations between the two countries in the contested waters.

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by Han Zhen

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