Arr, the scallywag Philippine coast guard be buildin' a fancy new spy post in the South China Sea to keep an eye on them Chinese blighters!
2023-12-01
Avast ye scurvy dogs! The Philippine coast guard be settin' up a grand new surveillance base on Thitu Island in the South China Sea! They be keepin' a close eye on China's rowdy ways in them disputed waters. Arrr, tis gonna be a sight to behold!
The Philippine coast guard has opened a new monitoring base on Thitu Island in an effort to counter China's increasingly aggressive behavior in the disputed South China Sea. The base, which was inaugurated on Friday, will be equipped with radar, ship-tracking, and other monitoring equipment to keep an eye on China's actions in the contested waters. Confrontations between Chinese and Philippine ships have escalated in recent months, including a collision near the disputed Second Thomas Shoal in October. Philippine National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano described China's actions as "pure bullying." During the opening ceremony, Ano spotted at least 18 suspected Chinese militia ships off Thitu Island.Thitu Island, which now has internet and cellphone connections, a stable power and water supply, a cemented runway, and other amenities, is dwarfed by the Chinese-built Subi island located over 14 miles away. China has transformed Subi and six other mostly submerged reefs into missile-protected bases in the South China Sea. In response to China's military might, the Philippines has sought to expand the U.S. military presence in its local camps and has conducted joint sea and air patrols with the United States and Australia.
China has warned against any joint naval patrols that could harm its "territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests." The Philippines, under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., has deepened its security ties with the United States, Japan, and Australia, shifting away from the cozy relations nurtured by former President Rodrigo Duterte with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Beijing claims control over the strategic waterways, which are also claimed by Vietnam and used by various Pacific countries. If Filipino forces come under armed attack, including in the South China Sea, the United States is obligated to defend them.