China is clearly on to building artificial islands at the Escoda Shoal just 75 nautical miles from the coast of Palawan in the Philippines EEZ. It has been observed that crushed corals were dumped and it is highly likely that the maritime features were altered.
The dumping of dead and crushed corals on the sandbars of Escoda Shoal was similar to the "island-building activities" done in Sandy Cay in the Kalayaan Island Group (Spratly Islands) in September 2023.
Escoda Shoal is the point where resupply boats of AFP meet their escort vessels from the PCG to bring supplies for troops onboard BRP Sierra Madre. PH's access to BRP Sierra Madre could be lost if China succeeds in building the artificial island.
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/tops...a-shoal/story/
PCG: Dumping of crushed corals in Escoda Shoal may be preps for China island-building