Philippines installing monitoring station in disputed South China Sea
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National security adviser Eduardo Ano (centre) made the announcement during a visit to the Philippine-held Thitu Island.
PHOTO: AFP
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THITU ISLAND - The Philippines on Dec 1 said it was establishing a coast guard station on the largest island it holds in the disputed South China Sea to improve monitoring of Chinese vessels asserting Beijing’s claims in the waters.
National security adviser Eduardo Ano made the announcement during a visit to the Philippine-held Thitu Island, which is part of the hotly contested Spratly Islands.
The coast guard station would be equipped with “advanced systems”, including radar, satellite communication, coastal cameras and vessel traffic management, he said.
The station has been built and is expected to be operational in early 2024.
“These systems will greatly enhance the PCG’s ability to monitor the movements of the Chinese maritime forces, other countries that might be coming here, and also our own public vessels and aircraft,” Mr Ano said, referring to the Philippine Coast Guard.
The collection of real-time data would have “an impact on the behaviour” of rival claimants, especially the Chinese, he said, hailing it as a “game changer”.
Thitu is about 430km from the major Philippine island of Palawan and more than 900km from China’s nearest major land mass of Hainan island.
Beijing claims most of the South China Sea, including waters and islands close to the shores of its neighbours, and has ignored an international tribunal decision that its assertion
It deploys vessels to patrol the waters and has built artificial islands and military installations to reinforce its stance.
The Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam have also staked claims to various islands and reefs in the sea that are believed to have rich petroleum reserves deep beneath its waters.
Relations between Manila and Beijing have frayed in recent months over a series of incidents in the waters, including two collisions between Philippine and Chinese boats
On Dec 1, Mr Ano accused Chinese coast guard and other vessels of engaging in “illegal” and “aggressive” behaviour towards Filipino fishermen and patrol boats.
“It’s pure bullying,” he said. “We shall not waver; we will stand our ground. We will not be deterred by any power that tries to oppress and outmuscle us.”
China’s state media reported that President Xi Jinping has called on his country’s coast guard to enforce maritime law and crack down on “criminal activities” to defend China’s territorial sovereignty.
Mr Xi made the comments as he inspected the China Coast Guard’s command office for the East China Sea area and the performance of the coast guard’s ships by video, Xinhua news agency reported on Dec 1.
He also said it is necessary to “pragmatically carry out exchanges and cooperation with foreign countries in maritime law enforcement, and actively participate in international and regional maritime governance.” AFP, REUTERS
