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

The Philippines has increased its capacity to monitor the movements of Chinese vessels and planes in the busy disputed waterway by constructing a new coast guard post on the contested island of Thitu, located in the South China Sea.

The Philippine Coast Guard noticed a Chinese naval ship and numerous militia vessels encircling the island, one of the nine features Manila controls in the Spratly archipelago, early this year. This comes when tensions are rising over territorial claims in the region.

According to a statement released by the Philippine Coast Guard, the newly constructed building, which spans three stories and was inaugurated on Friday, is outfitted with cutting-edge equipment like radar, automated recognition, satellite communication, and coastal cameras.

During his tour of the island, Eduardo Ano, the national security adviser for the Philippines, stated that the behavior of the Chinese Coast Guard, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, and Chinese militias can sometimes be unpredictable.

The statement was made to the press on Friday. “They do not adhere to the international order or the rule of law,” he said.

The actions that they are referring to as “gray-zone tactics” are, in fact, bullying, and they are entirely against the law. “In the context of the international order, it is not acceptable.”

Despite receiving a request for comment, the Chinese embassy in Manila did not immediately react to the inquiry.

The outpost of Thitu, located in the South China Sea and mainly claimed by Beijing, is Manila’s most significant and strategically vital outpost. This is even though other regional governments have competing territorial claims.

Locally referred to as Pag-asa, Thitu is located around 480 kilometers (300 miles) west of the province of Palawan in the Philippines. This area, which is home to around 200 people, is utilized by Manila to uphold its territorial claim.

Additionally, Brunei, China, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam are among the countries that have staked rival claims to sovereignty in the South China Sea. This region serves as a route for commodities worth more than three trillion dollars annually.