Why Philippine, US forces tried to ‘scope’ a Chinese-linked steel plant in Mindanao

Philippine military officials said on Tuesday that Filipino and US personnel had tried to access a closed Chinese-linked steel plant in Mindanao as part of planning for a future naval facility and joint military exercises, extending a dispute that had already drawn protests from Beijing over Manila’s handling of Chinese workers at the site.Sanjia Steel Corporation, which leases 22.6 hectares (56 acres) inside the government-run PHIVIDEC Industrial Estate in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental province, now sits beside land Manila considers strategically important for its military expansion in northern Mindanao.At its regular briefing on Tuesday, the Philippines" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="19015" data-entity-type="organization">Armed Forces of the Philippines confirmed that some of its personnel, along with US soldiers, had attempted to “scope” Sanjia’s premises on August 19.