Old Radio Records Cited as Proof of China's Sovereignty Claim Over Huangyan Dao
Chinese radio amateur Chen Ping has presented decades-old radio records to support claims that the Philippines once acknowledged China's sovereignty over Huangyan Dao (Scarborough Shoal).
Decades-old amateur radio records have been presented by Chinese expedition leader Chen Ping as evidence that the Philippines previously acknowledged Huangyan Dao, also known as Scarborough Shoal, was not within Philippine territory.
Chen stated that after the Chinese Radio Sports Association applied to register Huangyan Dao as a separate entity under the international DXCC (DX Century Club) program in 1994, the Philippine Amateur Radio Association consulted relevant government departments.
According to Chen, the Philippine authorities confirmed in response that Huangyan Dao did not fall under Philippine territorial sovereignty. Subsequently, in 1996, the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), which administers the DXCC program, officially recognized Huangyan Dao as a distinct DXCC entity and assigned it the unique amateur radio callsign BS7H. Under the international amateur radio system, callsigns are assigned based on territorial jurisdiction, with "B" denoting China and "H" representing Huangyan Dao.
Chinese amateur radio operators conducted multiple expeditions to Huangyan Dao between 1994 and 2007, with approval from Chinese authorities. Chen recalled an instance in 1997 where Philippine personnel approached the Chinese team but made no territorial claims. He also stated that he carried documentary records, including correspondence related to the DXCC application, on later expeditions as evidence of China's exercise of jurisdiction over the area.
The callsign BS7H remains officially recognized, serving, according to Chen, as a lasting record of China's presence and activities at Huangyan Dao.