Philippines strengthens South China Sea grip with permanent base on Thitu Island

The headquarters of a newly established coastguard district, formerly overseen from neighbouring Palawan, will cover an area of about 68,000 sq km (26,000 sq miles).

A journalist travelling to the new command centre on Thitu Island, known as Pagasa in the Philippines

, saw multiple Chinese Coast Guard

vessels patrolling nearby waters. The vessels issued radio warnings to the plane carrying the journalist.

Pagasa will now have a commodore-level commander on site, Philippine Coast Guard Commandant Ronnie Gil Gavan told reporters after a Thursday “activation” ceremony, along with a permanently stationed ship, more response vessels and an unspecified number of specialists.

“The establishment of the coastguard district here will also enhance the psyche, the mindset of each and every coastguard member, that … the defence of Kalayaan island group is a top priority,” Gavan said, using the Filipino name for the Spratlys.