U.S. monitoring Chinese activity in South China Sea

Article excerpt

U.S. intelligence agencies are closely monitoring Chinese activity around Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea after Beijing installed what it calls a "scientific structure" on the disputed reef, drawing Philippine protests. Tensions between China and the Philippines, a key American ally, intensified this week over the move. CBS News' James LaPorta and Olivia Gazis broke the story of the installation, which Chinese officials characterize as research infrastructure but which has angered Manila and drawn U.S. scrutiny.