Philippine activists plan civilian mission to contested South China Sea island

By Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio, Reporter

A COALITION of Philippine activist groups plans to sail to Thitu Island in the disputed South China Sea to deliver food and fuel to residents, part of a campaign to assert Manila’s presence amid rising Chinese activity in the region.

The Atin Ito (This Is Ours) coalition is finalizing plans for an April trip, with volunteers expected to stay on Thitu Island, also called Pag-asa by the Philippines, for a day before returning to the mainland.

“This sail is a response to a major crisis we are facing,” Rafaela David, co-convener of the South China Sea interest group, told reporters in Filipino.

Thitu is the biggest of the Philippine-occupied islands in the Spratlys and the only one with a permanent civilian population.

It lies roughly 12 nautical miles (22 kilometers) from China’s Subi Reef, a militarized outpost with an airstrip and naval facilities.

Edicio dela Torre, another Atin Ito co-convener, said the mission aims to reinforce the Philippines’ claim over the Kalayaan Island Group.

“Our mission will firmly assert to the world, and especially to China and its local enablers, that the Kalayaan Island Group is an integral part of the Philippines,” he told the same briefing in Filipino.

The Chinese Embassy in Manila did not immediately reply to a Viber message seeking comment.

China claims nearly the entire South China Sea under its nine-dash line, overlapping the exclusive economic zones of the Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia despite a 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague that voided those claims.

The upcoming sail will be Atin Ito’s fourth to Thitu since 2023 and is part of a broader effort to “civilianize” the waters, Mr. dela Torre said.

“This is one of the most powerful ways to respond to China’s militarization of the area,” he said.

Frequent encounters between Philippine and Chinese vessels have included water cannon use and sideswiping maneuvers.

Beijing has built man-made islands across the Spratlys with runways, ports and radar systems to extend its naval reach in the resource-rich waterway.

Ms. David told BusinessWorld the group is coordinating with “relevant agencies” to ensure safety during the voyage.

“Those who need to know about the mission are well aware, and they can also prepare safety measures to ensure our volunteers can peacefully reach the destination,” she said.

The mission will carry fuel and food packs for local fishermen living on Thitu Island.

The group said the trip is a statement of support for residents who face isolation and logistical challenges amid regional tensions.

The South China Sea, a vital global trade route, remains a flashpoint as competing claims and military developments heighten regional risks.

Civilian-led efforts like Atin Ito’s sail are unusual but reflect growing public concern in the Philippines about maintaining a presence in contested areas and supporting local communities.