The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said they are “seriously concerned” over new reclamation activities of China on Spratly Island, which violates the 2016 arbitral ruling and international law.

According to Bloomberg’s report, China is allegedly building on the unoccupied reefs in the sea.

“The Department takes note of the Bloomberg article on reported reclamation activities by China in unoccupied features of the Spratlys. We are seriously concerned as such activities contravene the Declaration of Conduct on the South China Sea’s undertaking on self-restraint and the 2016 Arbitral Award," the DFA said in a statement.

China’s activity is taking place in Eldad Reef in northern Spratlys, Whitsun Reef, and Sandy Cay in which sand bars expanded more than 10 times in size in recent years, Bloomberg noted.

DFA has ordered different government agencies to verify the report.

In 2016, the arbitral tribunal settled the Philippines' case against China in the South China Sea ruling overwhelmingly in favor of the Philippines, determining that major elements of China's claim were unlawful.

However, China ignored and disregarded the ruling.