A fresh satellite image has detected an unidentified reflective structure at the entrance to Scarborough Shoal's lagoon, intensifying fears in Manila that Beijing may be quietly expanding its footprint on the disputed reef.
In recent weeks, Chinese civilian ships have pushed farther from the mainland than ever before, mapping contested seabeds and asserting authority near Taiwan — a classic case of Beijing’s incremental, low-risk strategy to redraw the region’s maritime map.
Tokyo's defense chief dismissed Beijing's 'new militarism' label as 'not true' on Sunday, vowing to continue military buildup amid escalating tensions with China over Taiwan, maritime disputes, and regional security.
