Locally known as Pag-asa, Thitu lies about 480km west of the western Philippine province of Palawan. Home to over 400 people, including military and law enforcement personnel, the island is used by Manila to maintain its territorial claim.
Experts say China’s fishing fleet and coast guard are central to its strategic ambitions in the South China Sea, maintaining a constant presence that complicates fishing and offshore energy activities by other coastal states.
“Their continuing unauthorised presence is clearly inconsistent with the right of innocent passage and a blatant violation of the Philippines’ territorial integrity,” the coast guard said in a statement.
Marcos last month summoned the Chinese ambassador to complain about the intensity and frequency of China’s actions in the South China Sea.
The Philippines has filed 77 complaints against China’s activities in the sea, including a claim that a Chinese coast guard ship on Feb 6 directed a “military-grade laser” at one a Philippine coast guard ship on a supply mission.
China claims sovereignty over the Spratlys, while Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam all have competing claims for some or all of the islands.
Source: CNA
