The Middle Rocks (Malay: Batuan Tengah; Jawi: باتون تڠه; Chinese: 中岩礁; pinyin: Zhōngyánjiāo; lit.

The matter was settled by the International Court of Justice in 2008, which ruled that Middle Rocks belonged to Malaysia and Pedra Branca to Singapore.

Malaysia clarified that one of the key reasons is that "the parties have been unable to agree over the meaning of the 2008 judgement as it concerns South Ledge and the waters surrounding Pedra Branca.

According to the Sultan of Johor, the installation, which is a project under the auspices of the National Security Council, "is aimed at safeguarding Malaysia's sovereign territory and waters, and for conducting marine scientific research".

Photos posted by the Navy chief showed two armed guards on an observation deck, as well as a communications system fitted with surveillance equipment, as pointed out by Jane's Defence Weekly.