Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte expressed "concern" over China's new construction of military facilities on a disputes Shoal in the South China Sea.
"I think they are starting in (Bajo de) Masinloc, and this will be another ruckus there," he said citing an intelligence report. "There seem to be new barges coming in, and they suspect that's going to be another construction."
However, Duterte made it clear that he would not raise the issue on South China Sea dispute at the upcoming ASEAN meeting, next week in Laos.
"I have nothing against China now. I do not intend to raise the issue before the ASEAN because if I do, there's going to be a convoluted thing there, to each his own," Duterte said.
In July, the Hague-base Permanent Court of Arbitration issued ruling, favoring Philippines in a long-standing territorial dispute over South China Sea. The decision saying that the China has no legal authority over the territory was supported by the United Nations.
However, Beijing has rejected the ruling as "null and void." China continues to build up military facilities in several disputed South China Sea islands, resulting to deteriorating ties with Philippines and other claimants.
