Philippines builds new coast guard station on island in disputed South China Sea

A Philippine soldier walks on Thitu Island in the disputed South China Sea near the new monitoring post on Friday, December 1, 2023. - AFP

MANILA (Reuters): The Philippines has built a new coast guard station on the contested island of Thitu in the South China Sea, boosting its ability to monitor movements of Chinese vessels and aircraft in the busy disputed waterway.

As tension mounts over territorial claims in the area, the Philippine coast guard had early this year spotted a Chinese navy ship and dozens of militia vessels around the island, one of nine features Manila occupies in the Spratly archipelago.