China has reassured President Rodrigo Duterte that Scarborough Shoal would be spared from Beijing’s militarization of the disputed South China Sea.

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Duterte said he had a recent meeting with Chinese officials, whom he did not identify. The President said he asked the officials to spare Scarborough shoal from Beijing’s aggressive island-building.

Scarborough Shoal is the international name of Panatag Shoal, a rich fishing ground 143 miles off Zambales province that China seized after a two-month maritime standoff with the Philippines in 2012.

Filipino fishermen were now allowed to fish in the shoal but with coast guard ships nearby.

“During our talks last three weeks ago, wag lang galawin Scarborough. They promised no construction,” Duterte said a speech before troops in Cebu.

The President had earlier mentioned that China assured him they would not build anything in the Scarborough shoal following reports that Beijing would construct environmental monitoring station there.

China has reclaimed several islands and reefs in the South China Sea and has installed military facilities on some of them.

READ: South China Sea militarization

In July 2012, the United Nations arbitral tribunal ruled in favor of the Philippines and invalidated China’s sweeping claims in the South China Sea.

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