00:00 Manila's military chief, Romeo Bronner, announced on Monday, January 15 that the Philippines
00:08 intends to enhance the habitability of islands in the South China Sea, which it considers
00:13 part of its territory.
00:15 The development plans emerge against the backdrop of escalating tensions between the Philippines
00:19 and China, with both nations asserting claims over the South China Sea and exchanging acquisitions
00:24 of assertive actions in this strategically significant waterway.
00:29 Manila and Beijing have a long-standing history of maritime territorial disputes in the South
00:33 China Sea.
00:34 However, recent times have witnessed a significant deterioration in relations marked by a series
00:39 of incidents involving vessels from both countries.
00:42 Beyond the contested Second Thomas Shoal, known locally as Ayungin, the Philippines
00:47 holds sovereignty over eight other features in the South China Sea, considering them integral
00:51 to its exclusive economic zone.
00:53 Following a command conference led by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the military
00:58 headquarters, Chief Romeo Bronner expressed the nation's commitment to enhancing all
01:02 nine features, particularly focusing on the islands currently under Philippine occupation.
01:08 Among the features in the South China Sea, Thitu Island, locally known as Pagasa, stands
01:13 out as the largest and strategically pivotal.
01:16 Positioned approximately 480 km west of the Philippine province of Palawan, Thitu holds
01:20 immense significance in the territorial landscape.
01:23 The Philippine military is undertaking efforts to enhance facilities on islands like Thitu
01:27 and Nanshan, incorporating the installation of desalination machines and advanced communications
01:33 equipment.
01:35 The proposed improvements align with the goal of providing essential resources for
01:38 troops stationed aboard a warship intentionally grounded on Second Thomas Shoal in 1999, a
01:43 deliberate assertion of the Philippines' sovereignty claim.
01:46 Chief Romeo Bronner clarified that the enhancement plan does not extend to fortifying the Sierra
01:51 Madre, a deteriorating World War II vintage ship intentionally grounded by the Philippine
01:56 Navy in 1999 to solidify the country's territorial claims.
01:59 Beyond the Philippines, the South China Sea is a hotspot of territorial contention, with
02:03 Brunei, China, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam all asserting competing claims to sovereignty.
02:08 This maritime region serves as a crucial conduit for goods, facilitating a trade volume exceeding
02:13 US$3 trillion annually.
02:16 Highlighting the broader strategic shift, Bronner revealed that the military's modernization
02:20 plans also encompass acquiring additional ships, radars, and aircraft.
02:24 This move reflects the Philippines' evolving focus from internal defense to safeguarding
02:29 its territorial interests amid the complex geopolitical dynamics of the South China Sea.
02:35 [music]
02:39 (explosion)
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