Navy denies think-tank report Chinese Navy presence affects construction in Pagasa Island

March 10, 2020

  The Philippine Navy on Tuesday said there is no report that the presence of Chinese vessels near Pagasa Island affects construction activity in the area.

"So far no, I have not recieved any report that our works there will be delayed because of the Chinese presence," Flag Officer in Command (FOIC) Rear Adm. Giovanni Carlo Bacordo said Tuesday.

Bacordo assures that the construction project in Pagasa Island which includes the repair of runway is ongoing.

"Our projects there continues," he said.

Last week, the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiatives (AMTI) said satelite imagery collected from December 2, 2018, and March 2, 2020 shows the presence of Chinese vessels near the island affecting the upgrade in Pagasa.

"China has maintained an almost constant militia presence around Thitu Island, the largest of the Spratly Islands occupied by the Philippines, for over 450 days according to satellite imagery analyzed by AMTI,"  the article stated.

According to the AMTI, "China first deployed militia vessels around Thitu in December 2018 in response to Philippine efforts to repair the island’s runway and undertake other upgrades"

"Since then, the militia fleet has fluctuated in size but rarely, if ever, disappeared. As a result, the Philippines has made very little progress on its planned upgrades. But there are signs that could be changing," the US think- tank said.

"The militia initially deployed around Thitu at the start of December 2018. Their numbers peaked later that month when the Philippines’ brought in the supplies needed for their repairs. They spiked again in February 2019," it added.

Describing improvements in Pagasa based on satellite imagery, the AMTI said by January 2019 "the Philippines was undertaking more ambitious dredging and landfill work than needed to build a ramp."

"By October 3, imagery shows the collapsed runway mostly filled-in with new sand. Meanwhile further dredging was underway in the area north of the beaching ramp and a channel was being dug from this area to the edge of the reef", it said.

More recent imagery from February 13 provides an update. ''The runway repairs are continuing slowly. But most of the dredging to the north is complete and it seems clear that this area is being turned into a small harbor," it added. Robina Asido/DMS