Philippine coast guard constructs new surveillance base in the South China Sea to monitor Chinese vessels

The Philippine coast guard is looking to counter China’s increasingly aggressive behavior in the disputed South China Sea with a new monitoring base on Thitu Island, a remote island occupied by Filipino forces. The base was inaugurated on Friday.

Philippine National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano and other Philippine officials flew to Thitu Island and led a ceremony to open the newly constructed, two-story center that will have radar, ship-tracking and other monitoring equipment — either already installed or added early next year — to monitor China’s actions in the hotly disputed waters and other problems, including sea accidents.

The base was constructed as confrontations between Chinese and Philippine ships have intensified over recent months in the contested waters, including an alarming collision near the disputed Second Thomas Shoal occupied by a Filipino marine contingent in October.