#Thitu has been occupied by the #Philippines since 1974 and is home to 387 civilians. However, #China also claims the island and much of the surrounding #SouthChinaSea Thitu and its people are on the frontline of an intensifying struggle against their superpower neighbour.

#PagasaIsland #WesiPHSea

'As long as we’re here, it’s ours’: the island fishing community on the frontline of South China Sea tensions
https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/aug/26/thitu-island-philippines-south-china-sea-tensions-pag-asa-fishing-community

The #KalayaanIslandGroup is the farthest island territory of the #Philippines on the west and is located beyond its 200 nautical mile #ExclusiveEconomicZone.

#PagAsaIsland, where a civilian population lives, is part of the Kalayaan Island Group. #WestPHSea

#China protests PH’s extended continental shelf claim in #WestPhilippineSea
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/china-protests-philippines-extended-continental-shelf-claim-west-philippine-sea/

Voyages to contested or disputed areas in the #WestPhilippineSea – the vicinity of #AyunginShoal, #PagasaIsland, or even #PanatagShoal which is under the #NorthernLuzonCommand – must be first approved by the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea, which is headed by Año in his capacity as the National Security Adviser. #Philippines

#China ups ante, says it has audio recording of ‘new deal’ arrangement with PH Wescom chief
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/china-claim-audio-recording-new-deal-arrangement-ayungin-shoal-west-commander/

Back toot: https://noc.social/@Norobiik/112402544242891074

The incident happened Thursday near #SandyCayReef, several kilometres from the Philippine-held #ThituIsland in the contested #SpratlyIslands.

The Filipino scientific team spent four hours at two reefs and was able to complete its mission, despite the presence of Chinese vessels and a Chinese military helicopter circling overhead. #WestPHSea #PagAsaIsland

#PhilippineCoastGuard accuses Chinese vessel of trying to block scientists
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/philippine-coast-guard-accuses-chinese-vessel-of-trying-to-block-scientists/ar-BB1kkMJy?ocid=emmx-mmx-feeds&PC=EMMX01

Image source: https://maritimereview.ph/the-controversy-surrounding-sandy-cay-examining-the-public-evidence/

"If #China succeeds in enforcing its nine-dash line claim using its new coast guard law, and if #Russia succeeds in keeping Ukrainian territory that it has invaded, then both China and Russia would be overturning and negating the foundational principle of the #UNCharter." #SouthChinaSea #PagasaIsland #AyunginShoal

[ANALYSIS] Flashpoints in the #Philippines-China relationship
https://www.rappler.com/voices/thought-leaders/analysis-flashpoints-philippines-china-relationship/