Philippines strengthens South China Sea strategy with US$56 million Thitu Island upgrade

At the centre of this bold strategy is the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defence Concept (CADC), a sweeping initiative aimed at enhancing Manila’s military capabilities and fortifying its maritime borders.

The plan is ambitious, encompassing upgrades to crucial infrastructure and a significant increase in naval and air assets. Among the most critical projects is the expansion of the airstrip on Thitu Island, known locally as Pag-asa. This unassuming land mass, the largest of the Spratly Islands claimed by the Philippines, could soon become a pivotal point in the struggle for maritime control.

“[We] are increasing our concentration, our focus and our emphasis on external features all the way up to our 200 nautical-mile exclusive economic zone,” said Philippine Navy spokesman Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad on Tuesday.

The CADC’s implementation “is a long-term process which will be done in different phases”, he said. But this is more than just a military upgrade; it is a declaration of intent.