The Philippines is upgrading its facilities on Thitu Island, the only inhabited outpost it holds in the contested Spratly Islands, according to a report by the South China Morning Post.
The country&rsquo;s latest annual budget has allocated 1.65 billion pesos ($27.96 million) to improve the airport on Thitu, alongside an additional 300 million pesos ($5 million) for constructing a sheltered port. Separately, over 1 billion pesos has been set aside for a sheltered port facility on Nanshan Island, located approximately 160 kilometres (100 miles) east of Thitu.
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<h2>Upgrades to enhance the Philippines&rsquo; limited military capacity</h2>
While these upgrades are unlikely to significantly shift the regional balance of power, analysts believe they will enhance the Philippines&rsquo; limited military capacity amid increasing pressure from Beijing in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/explainer-india-indonesia-the-maritime-neighbours-firming-up-ties-8608014">South China Sea</a>. According to the report, the funding will support extending the island&rsquo;s sole airstrip to 1.5 kilometres, making it suitable for certain F-16 fighter variants&nbsp;as well as light combat and transport aircraft.
Analysts suggest Beijing would likely be alarmed if the facilities on Thitu Island were made available to US forces. Such a move might be viewed as Washington inserting itself into the territorial dispute between the Philippines and China.
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<h2>Philippines plays catch up with regional rivals</h2>
The Philippines, long criticised for its slow pace in upgrading infrastructure in the Spratlys, appears to be catching up with its regional rivals. Although Manila was one of the first claimants to occupy disputed reefs, decades of neglect and underinvestment have eroded any strategic advantages gained from its early actions. In contrast, China completed an extensive island-building programme over a decade ago and has consistently improved its facilities in the region.
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Known as Pag-asa in the Philippines and Zhongye in China, Thitu Island is the largest feature occupied by Manila in the area. It hosts a coastguard station equipped with radar and other monitoring systems, as well as a civilian population of around 200 people. The island, also claimed by Vietnam, is located roughly 500 kilometres (310 miles) west of Palawan and holds strategic significance in the disputed waters.
In the past year, clashes between Chinese and Philippine vessels have intensified near disputed areas, including incidents involving ship collisions and the use of water cannons by the Chinese coastguard. 
(With inputs from agencies)

World: The Philippines, long criticised for its slow pace in upgrading infrastructure in the Spratlys, appears to be catching up with its regional rivals.

The Philippines is upgrading its facilities on Thitu Island, the only inhabited outpost it holds in the contested Spratly Islands, according to a report by the South China Morning Post. The country’s latest annual budget has allocated 1.65 billion pesos ($27.96 million) to improve the airport on Thitu, alongside an additional 300 million pesos ($5 million) for constructing a sheltered port. Separately, over 1 billion pesos has been set aside for a sheltered port facility on Nanshan Island, located approximately 160 kilometres (100 miles) east of Thitu. Also read: India, Indonesia working on BrahMos missile deal Upgrades to enhance the Philippines’ limited military capacity While these upgrades are unlikely to significantly shift the regional balance of power, analysts believe they will enhance the Philippines’ limited military capacity amid increasing pressure from Beijing in the South China Sea. According to the report, the funding will support extending the island’s sole airstrip to 1.5 kilometres, making it suitable for certain F-16 fighter variants as well as light combat and transport aircraft. Analysts suggest Beijing would likely be alarmed if the facilities on Thitu Island were made available to US forces. Such a move might be viewed as Washington inserting itself into the territorial dispute between the Philippines and China. Also read: Philippines says China Coast Guard fired water cannon, 'sideswiped' govt vessel Philippines plays catch up with regional rivals The Philippines, long criticised for its slow pace in upgrading infrastructure in the Spratlys, appears to be catching up with its regional rivals. Although Manila was one of the first claimants to occupy disputed reefs, decades of neglect and underinvestment have eroded any strategic advantages gained from its early actions. In contrast, China completed an extensive island-building programme over a decade ago and has consistently improved its facilities in the region. Also read: Three dead, dozens hospitalised after eating toxic sea turtle in Philippines Known as Pag-asa in the Philippines and Zhongye in China, Thitu Island is the largest feature occupied by Manila in the area. It hosts a coastguard station equipped with radar and other monitoring systems, as well as a civilian population of around 200 people. The island, also claimed by Vietnam, is located roughly 500 kilometres (310 miles) west of Palawan and holds strategic significance in the disputed waters. In the past year, clashes between Chinese and Philippine vessels have intensified near disputed areas, including incidents involving ship collisions and the use of water cannons by the Chinese coastguard. (With inputs from agencies)

Philippines ramps up Spratly Islands upgrades to enhance military capacity amid tension with China

&nbsp;The presence of hundreds of Chinese boats near an island occupied by Manila in the disputed South China Sea is illegal and a clear violation of Philippine sovereignty, the country's foreign ministry said on Thursday.

"Such actions when not repudiated by the <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/world/hague-court-to-pass-a-ruling-on-july-12-in-south-china-sea-case-1457&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwjy5pSg9bXhAhUzguYKHaPgD_oQFggLMAI&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw0ZwPTLqaPedat8CSm9nQ8c">Chinese government</a> are deemed to have been adopted by it," <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/world/china-declines-to-say-if-it-supports-philippine-fishing-ban-at-disputed-scarborough-shoal-9193&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwjoq8u99bXhAhXEgeYKHeWoCRUQFggLMAI&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw1Eb0WXbji6D3HtG4yhN2al">the Department of Foreign Affairs</a> said in a statement, days after the Philippines said it had lodged a diplomatic protest over the vessels.

The presence of the vessels in the vicinity of <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/world/duterte-orders-philippine-troops-to-south-china-sea-reefs-14245&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwj85uDO9bXhAhWCjeYKHRYtDZ0QFggIMAE&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw0bQoZpAYj2mDAS9aeQn3WK">Thitu island</a> for sustained and recurring periods raised questions about their intent and concerns over their role "in support of coercive objectives," the ministry added.

Military data show the Philippines has monitored more than 200 Chinese boats near Thitu, or Pagasa, as it is known locally, from January to March this year.

Besides the Philippines, Brunei, China, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam have competing claims of sovereignty in the busy waterway, a conduit for goods in excess of $3.4 trillion every&nbsp;

are deemed to have been adopted by it," the Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement, days after the Philippines said it had lodged a diplomatic protest over the vessels.

The presence of the vessels in the vicinity of Thitu island for sustained and recurring periods raised questions about their intent and concerns over their role "in support of coercive objectives," the ministry added.

Military data show the Philippines has monitored more than 200 Chinese boats near Thitu, or Pagasa, as it is known locally, from January to March this year.

Besides the Philippines, Brunei, China, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam have competing claims of sovereignty in the busy waterway, a conduit for goods in excess of $3.4 trillion every year.

The presence of hundreds of Chinese boats near an island occupied by Manila in the disputed South China Sea is illegal and a clear violation of Philippine sovereignty, the country's foreign ministry said on Thursday.

The presence of hundreds of Chinese boats near an island occupied by Manila in the disputed South China Sea is illegal and a clear violation of Philippine sovereignty, the country's foreign ministry said on Thursday. "Such actions when not repudiated by the Chinese government are deemed to have been adopted by it," the Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement, days after the Philippines said it had lodged a diplomatic protest over the vessels. The presence of the vessels in the vicinity of Thitu island for sustained and recurring periods raised questions about their intent and concerns over their role "in support of coercive objectives," the ministry added. Military data show the Philippines has monitored more than 200 Chinese boats near Thitu, or Pagasa, as it is known locally, from January to March this year. Besides the Philippines, Brunei, China, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam have competing claims of sovereignty in the busy waterway, a conduit for goods in excess of $3.4 trillion every are deemed to have been adopted by it," the Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement, days after the Philippines said it had lodged a diplomatic protest over the vessels. The presence of the vessels in the vicinity of Thitu island for sustained and recurring periods raised questions about their intent and concerns over their role "in support of coercive objectives," the ministry added. Military data show the Philippines has monitored more than 200 Chinese boats near Thitu, or Pagasa, as it is known locally, from January to March this year. Besides the Philippines, Brunei, China, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam have competing claims of sovereignty in the busy waterway, a conduit for goods in excess of $3.4 trillion every year.

Presence of Chinese vessels in South China Sea illegal: Philippines

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte ordered troops to scrap plans of building a fishermen&#39;s shelter on a sandbar in the disputed South China Sea after Beijing complained, his defence chief said&nbsp;Wednesday.

The military in August brought bamboo and palm roofing materials to one of three sandbars that emerged near one of their garrisons in the Spratlys archipelago in the contested sea, Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said.

&quot;We tried to put some structures (on) one of the sandbars near our island and the Chinese reacted,&quot; Lorenzana told a regional security forum.

&quot;And so the president came to know about this and he said: &#39;Let&#39;s pull out&#39;.&quot;

The apparent reversal comes at a time of improving relations between China and the Philippines, which until recently had bitterly contested their overlapping claims to the sea.

Lorenzana later told reporters that Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano advised Duterte there was an agreement between the two nations not to put up structures on new South China Sea features.

&quot;We did not occupy it but some of our fishermen would like to establish a shelter there. They (China) saw it and they complained, so we had to pull out,&quot; Lorenzana said.

China claims most of the strategically vital sea, through which $5 trillion in annual shipping trade passes, and which is believed to sit atop vast oil and gas deposits.

It has been turning reefs in the sea into islands, installing military aircraft and missile systems on them.

China&#39;s sweeping claims overlap with those of Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei, as well as Taiwan.

The Philippines had for many years been one of the region&#39;s strongest opponents to Chinese expansionism.

A United Nations-backed tribunal ruled last year that China&#39;s territorial claims in the sea were without legal basis.

But the Philippines, under Duterte, decided not to use the verdict to pressure China, instead electing to build closer ties in return for billions of dollars in investments and aid.

Lorenzana said the sandbar the military had planned to build the shelter on was a 500-square-metre (5,382-square-foot) outcrop located 4.6 kilometres (2.9 miles) from Philippine-held Thitu island.

Thitu is located about 26 kilometres (16 miles) from one of the artificial Chinese islands.

Lorenzana said the sandbars were now empty and that Manila was not worried China would occupy them in turn.

Nevertheless, he said he was concerned over the potential for future confrontation as Chinese fishing fleets escorted by maritime patrol vessels showed up in waters considered a traditional Filipino fishing ground.

&quot;We have troops there, we have ships. Their troops could confront ours. That&#39;s the kind of encounter I&#39;m talking about. Now if there&#39;s a mis-encounter, misunderstanding or miscalculation it could result into violence,&quot; Lorenzana said.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte ordered troops to scrap plans of building a fishermen's shelter on a sandbar in the disputed South China Sea after Beijing complained.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte ordered troops to scrap plans of building a fishermen's shelter on a sandbar in the disputed South China Sea after Beijing complained, his defence chief said Wednesday. The military in August brought bamboo and palm roofing materials to one of three sandbars that emerged near one of their garrisons in the Spratlys archipelago in the contested sea, Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said. "We tried to put some structures (on) one of the sandbars near our island and the Chinese reacted," Lorenzana told a regional security forum. "And so the president came to know about this and he said: 'Let's pull out'." The apparent reversal comes at a time of improving relations between China and the Philippines, which until recently had bitterly contested their overlapping claims to the sea. Lorenzana later told reporters that Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano advised Duterte there was an agreement between the two nations not to put up structures on new South China Sea features. "We did not occupy it but some of our fishermen would like to establish a shelter there. They (China) saw it and they complained, so we had to pull out," Lorenzana said. China claims most of the strategically vital sea, through which $5 trillion in annual shipping trade passes, and which is believed to sit atop vast oil and gas deposits. It has been turning reefs in the sea into islands, installing military aircraft and missile systems on them. China's sweeping claims overlap with those of Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei, as well as Taiwan. The Philippines had for many years been one of the region's strongest opponents to Chinese expansionism. A United Nations-backed tribunal ruled last year that China's territorial claims in the sea were without legal basis. But the Philippines, under Duterte, decided not to use the verdict to pressure China, instead electing to build closer ties in return for billions of dollars in investments and aid. Lorenzana said the sandbar the military had planned to build the shelter on was a 500-square-metre (5,382-square-foot) outcrop located 4.6 kilometres (2.9 miles) from Philippine-held Thitu island. Thitu is located about 26 kilometres (16 miles) from one of the artificial Chinese islands. Lorenzana said the sandbars were now empty and that Manila was not worried China would occupy them in turn. Nevertheless, he said he was concerned over the potential for future confrontation as Chinese fishing fleets escorted by maritime patrol vessels showed up in waters considered a traditional Filipino fishing ground. "We have troops there, we have ships. Their troops could confront ours. That's the kind of encounter I'm talking about. Now if there's a mis-encounter, misunderstanding or miscalculation it could result into violence," Lorenzana said.

We tried to put structures on sandbars and China reacted: Philippines Defence Secretary

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Philippines ramps up Spratly Islands upgrades to enhance military capacity amid tension with China

Presence of Chinese vessels in South China Sea illegal: Philippines

We tried to put structures on sandbars and China reacted: Philippines Defence Secretary