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Text of report in English by Philippine newspaper The Daily Tribune website on 2 June
[Report by Michaela P. del Callar and Mario J. Mallari: "RP Govt Protests Chinas Planned oil rig, Constructions in Reeds, Spratlys"]
The Philippine government has formally protested to China, summoning its diplomat in Manila, over recent construction activities in the disputed Spratlys and Chinese plans to install an oil rig there in violation of a 2002 regional accord aimed at preventing armed conflicts in the South China Sea.
Citing Philippine military reports, Manila said an undetermined number of structures were recently constructed by China in the vicinity of Philippine-claimed Iroquois Reef-Amy Douglas Bank near Palawan.
The site, a Foreign Affairs statement said, is located southwest of Recto or Reed Bank and east of Patag or Flat Island "within the Philippines' 200 nautical miles Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)."
On May 31, Chinese Embassy Charge d'Affaires Bai Tian, who was summoned to the Department of Foreign Affairs, received the Philippine note verbale or diplomatic note, expressing the Philippine government's "serious concerns" over China's recent actions in the South China Sea.
The DFA also requested clarification from the Chinese embassy on the recent sightings of a China Marine Surveillance (CMS) vessel and other People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) ships.
These ships reportedly unloaded building materials, erected an undetermined number of posts, and placed a buoy near the breaker of the Amy Douglas Bank, the DFA said.
"The posts and buoy placed...