MANILA, Philippines — Mamamayang Liberal Rep. Leila de Lima and the House Young Guns condemned the deployment of a floating platform in Panatag Shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal.
In a statement on Saturday, de Lima said it was "an area that lies well within the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone and over which the Philippines enjoys sovereign rights and jurisdiction under international law."
Deputy Speaker and La Union 1st District Rep. Paolo Ortega 5th, Deputy Speaker and Zambales 1st District Rep. Jay Khonghun, and Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong—all from the Young Guns group in the House of Representatives—supported the diplomatic protest filed against China by the country.
"We stand united with the Filipino people and the entire government in defending every inch of our territory and exclusive economic zone", they said.
Guo Wei, deputy spokesman, said in a statement on Saturday on the Chinese Embassy Manila's Facebook page, "Huangyan Dao is China's inherent territory, and China has indisputable sovereignty over Huangyan Dao and its adjacent waters. China's activities, including scientific research, in the relevant waters are normal actions within the scope of its sovereignty, which are beyond reproach."
Huangyan Dao is the name China uses for the shoal.
