Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday expressed "concern" over China's new construction on a disputed Shoal in the South China Sea.

Citing an intelligence report, Duterte claimed that China has started a new construction on the disputed Scarborough Shoal, also known as Panatag Shoal, in the contested waters.

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"I think they are starting in (Bajo de) Masinloc, and this will be another ruckus there," he said. "There seem to be new barges coming in, and they suspect that's going to be another construction."  

The newly elected Filipino leader, however, made it clear that he would not raise South China Sea dispute issue at the forthcoming ASEAN meeting, which is scheduled for 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-based Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled against China in favor of Philippines in a long-standing territorial dispute over the South China Sea. The United Nations-supported international tribunal dismissed China's territorial claims over the contested waters saying that the country has no legal authority over the territory.

Beijing has, however, rejected the ruling as "null and void." China continues to build up its military facilities in several contested South China Sea islands, resulting into deteriorating ties with the Philippines and other claimants.  

TagsSouth China Sea, South China Sea Dispute, china, Philippines, Shoal