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The Philippines
This Week in AsiaPolitics

South China Sea: Philippine senators launch new project to strengthen presence on disputed Pag-asa island

  • The project will see the construction of military barracks and other infrastructure aimed at countering China’s activities in the disputed waters
  • Analysts say the projects will bolster Philippines’ access to resources and logistical support, but risk further provoking Beijing

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Philippine troops watch a Philippine coastguard ship as they secure an area at the Philippine-occupied Thitu island, locally called Pag-asa island. Photo: AP
Jeoffrey Maitem
A group of Philippine senators visited the remote island of Pag-asa in the South China Sea to launch the construction of new infrastructure aimed at strengthening their presence and countering Chinese activities in the disputed waters.
Analysts said the project would provide the Philippines with better access to the area’s natural resources and other logistical advantages but it could also further provoke Beijing, which has been seeking to use the area as a launch pad for its power projection efforts in the region.

As the lawmakers flew to Pag-asa Island – the largest island in the Philippine-claimed Kalayaan Island Group within the contested Spratly Islands – on Thursday, they reported being challenged by Chinese forces who sent a radio message to their plane instructing them to leave what it claimed to be Beijing’s territory.

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“It’s sad that we are in our own country, in Philippine territory, and then we are told to leave because it’s supposedly China’s territory. It’s really shocking, alarming, and enraging,” Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri told reporters.

“What I wanted to say is that, if they are listening, this is the territory of the Republic of the Philippines. This is not yours. This has been ours even before Ferdinand Magellan discovered the Philippines. So, get out,” Zubiri added.

A Philippine coastguard personnel uses binoculars to monitor movements of suspected Chinese militia ships near Pag-asa island. Photo: AP
A Philippine coastguard personnel uses binoculars to monitor movements of suspected Chinese militia ships near Pag-asa island. Photo: AP

The lawmakers were on Pag-asa to inaugurate the construction of new barracks and other facilities on the island meant to enhance the Philippines’ military and logistical capabilities on the island.

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