The Philippines has inaugurated a coast guard station on an island occupied by its forces in the disputed South China Sea. Manila says the base is necessary to monitor Chinese vessels after recent "bullying."
The Philippines opened a coast guard base on the contested island of Thitu on Friday, fully equipped to monitor passing vessels in the South China Sea.
Manila says the base will monitor the behavior of Chinese ships and aircraft in the waterway, accusing Beijing of seeking to bully it over the Spratly archipelago.
Earlier this year, the Philippine Coast Guard said it had spotted a Chinese navy ship and dozens of militia vessels near the island, which is Manila’s main strategic outpost in the South China Sea.
“These systems will greatly enhance the PCG’s ability to monitor the movements of the Chinese maritime forces, other countries that might be coming here, and also as well as our own public vessels and aircraft,” he added.
Thitu, locally known as Pag-asa, lies about 300 miles (480 kilometers) west of the Philippine province of Palawan and is home to some 200 people.
Alongside the Philippines and China, other countries with rival claims to parts of the maritime area include Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam.
The original article contains 363 words, the summary contains 169 words. Saved 53%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!
This is the best summary I could come up with:
The Philippines opened a coast guard base on the contested island of Thitu on Friday, fully equipped to monitor passing vessels in the South China Sea.
Manila says the base will monitor the behavior of Chinese ships and aircraft in the waterway, accusing Beijing of seeking to bully it over the Spratly archipelago.
Earlier this year, the Philippine Coast Guard said it had spotted a Chinese navy ship and dozens of militia vessels near the island, which is Manila’s main strategic outpost in the South China Sea.
“These systems will greatly enhance the PCG’s ability to monitor the movements of the Chinese maritime forces, other countries that might be coming here, and also as well as our own public vessels and aircraft,” he added.
Thitu, locally known as Pag-asa, lies about 300 miles (480 kilometers) west of the Philippine province of Palawan and is home to some 200 people.
Alongside the Philippines and China, other countries with rival claims to parts of the maritime area include Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam.
The original article contains 363 words, the summary contains 169 words. Saved 53%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!