A special Philippine task force said on Wednesday that it is investigating reports of an alleged new structure on the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the ​South China Sea, adding that it takes seriously any development that may ‌affect the country’s sovereign rights. “The Philippine government takes seriously any development that may affect the country’s sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea,” the country’s National Task Force for ​the West Philippine Sea said in a statement. The West Philippine Sea is ​the name Manila uses for waters within its exclusive economic zone ⁠in the South China Sea. Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro told reporters on the sidelines of Shangri-La ​Dialogue in Singapore on Saturday that he received raw information about the presence of the structure ​on the shoal, which has been effectively under China’s control after a standoff with the Philippines in 2012.

Full report : Philippines probes possible new structure at disputed Scarborough Shoal.