Philippines to Upgrade Military Outposts in China Sea Amid Tensions with China

Manila's military chief announces plans to make islands more habitable for troops, acquire more ships, radars, and aircraft as part of a shift towards territorial defence.

• The Philippines plans to upgrade islands and reefs in the South China Sea to make them more habitable for troops, amid increasing tensions with China.
• Manila's military chief, Romeo Brawner, announced the plans, which include the installation of a desalination machine on a warship grounded on Second Thomas Shoal in 1999 to assert sovereignty.
• The upgrades are part of a shift in focus from internal defence to territorial defence, with plans to acquire more ships, radars, and aircraft.
• Recent months have seen heightened tensions between the Philippines and China, with incidents including a collision between vessels and Chinese ships blasting a water cannon at Philippine boats.
• The South China Sea is a strategic waterway, with claims of sovereignty from multiple countries including Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam, but Beijing claims almost the entire area.

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