PCG: China’s Artificial Island on Panganiban Reef a ‘Blatant Encroachment’

MANILA, Philippines — What was once a natural reef in the West Philippine Sea has been transformed by China into a militarized artificial island, situating military assets just 120 nautical miles from the Philippine coastline, officials said Saturday.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reiterated its position following the release of images by state-run PTV showing the extent of the development on Panganiban Reef, known internationally as Mischief Reef. The imagery depicts what the PCG describes as a fully operational military base, including structures, radar facilities, and airstrip infrastructure.

In a statement, PCG spokesperson Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela underscored the reef’s proximity to the Philippines, contrasting it with the distance to the Chinese mainland.

“Panganiban Reef is only 120 nautical miles from the coastline of Palawan, while it is more than 600 nautical miles from mainland China,” Tarriela said. He did not explicitly label the activity as illegal but emphasized the disparity in distance as part of the Philippine government’s ongoing diplomatic objections.

The reef lies within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) under the 2016 landmark ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, which invalidated China’s expansive maritime claims. Beijing has rejected the ruling and has continued its military and civilian buildup in the region.

Mischief Reef has been a flashpoint in the South China Sea for decades. In 1995, the Philippines discovered that Chinese fishermen and military vessels had established structures on the reef, leading to a series of diplomatic standoffs. Since then, China has progressively expanded the feature, constructing a runway, naval berthing facilities, and air defense systems.

The reef is part of the Spratly Islands archipelago, much of which is claimed by the Philippines, China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei. The 2016 arbitral ruling rejected China’s historic rights claim within the Philippines’ EEZ, affirming the sovereign rights of the Philippines to the maritime area.

The Philippine government has repeatedly called for the immediate cessation of Chinese activities in the region, citing risks to maritime safety, marine biodiversity, and regional stability. China maintains that its activities are lawful and conducted within its sovereign territory.

The PCG and the Philippine Navy continue to conduct regular patrols in the area. Tarriela said the PCG remains committed to maintaining a presence in the West Philippine Sea “in accordance with international law.”

The newly circulated images have reignited calls from Philippine lawmakers and civil society groups for stronger multilateral engagement to address China’s military expansion in the disputed waterway.