The Philippines is reportedly building a new airport on Pag-asa Island, a remote island in the Spratly Islands of the South China Sea. This island, also known as Thitu Island, is located 285 nautical miles from Palawan and is a disputed territory between the Philippines and China.
The construction of this airport is expected to improve access to the island, which is inhabited by Filipino civilians and military personnel. It is also anticipated to facilitate supply routes, boost tourism, and increase investment in the area.
This move is seen as an effort by the Philippines to strengthen its claims in the South China Sea amid ongoing tensions with China. China claims sovereignty over the entire Spratly Islands, despite the Philippines winning an international arbitration ruling in 2016 that supported its claims over several islands in the region. The development of the airport is feared to exacerbate tensions between the two countries and potentially trigger conflict in the South China Sea.
In addition to building the airport on Pag-asa Island, the Philippines is also nearing completion of a military runway project on Balabac Island, Palawan. This location is strategic due to its proximity to the South China Sea and is one of the four new sites accessible to the US military under an expanded defense agreement.
These infrastructure developments are part of President Marcos's efforts to open the southern regions of the capital for new investments, ease transportation, enhance connectivity, and strengthen the tourism sector.
The South China Sea has long been a contested area rich in resources, claimed by several countries including the Philippines, China, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei. China asserts extensive claims through the nine-dash line, which overlaps with the claims of neighboring countries, causing regional tensions.
In 2016, an international tribunal in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines regarding their claims in the region, but China ignored the ruling and continued to build and militarize artificial islands in the South China Sea. This has heightened concerns and the potential for conflict in the area.
