Latest news with #ThituIsland
South China Morning Post
17-07-2025
- General
- South China Morning Post
Philippines weighs legal action against China over US$194,000 coral reef damage
The Philippines has publicly accused a Chinese vessel of causing more than 11 million pesos (US$194,000) in damage to protected coral reefs near Thitu Island in the South China Sea On Monday, Manila released the results of an environmental survey showing that a Chinese ship had ran aground near Thitu Island in June Investigators found that the vessel dragged a parachute anchor across the sensitive marine ecosystem, scarring at least 464 square metres (4,994 square feet) of reef less than 3km from Thitu – one of the Philippines' main outposts in the disputed waters, known locally as Pag-asa Island. The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea presented the findings, which were based on dives conducted by the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development, Western Philippines and the Philippine coastguard. The vessel, identified by hull number 16838, was stranded on June 7 for nearly three hours before freeing itself and being escorted away by the China Coast Guard and two other Chinese ships, the report found. Before departing, the ship reportedly left behind the parachute anchor, which dragged across some 30 per cent of the reef area and was later found resting atop 307 square metres of coral, blocking sunlight and further threatening marine life, according to representatives of the council.
CNA
08-06-2025
- Politics
- CNA
Chinese ship runs aground off Philippines-occupied island in disputed South China Sea
MANILA: A Chinese ship ran aground in stormy weather in shallow waters off a Philippines-occupied island in the disputed South China Sea, prompting Filipino forces to go on alert, Philippine military officials said on Sunday (Jun 8). When Filipino forces assessed that the Chinese fishing vessel appeared to have run aground in the shallows east of Thitu Island on Saturday because of bad weather, Philippine military and coast guard personnel deployed to provide help but later saw that the ship had been extricated, regional navy spokesperson Ellaine Rose Collado said. No other details were immediately available, including if there were injuries among the crewmembers or if the ship was damaged, Collado said. Confrontations have spiked between Chinese and Philippine coast guard and navy ships in the disputed waters in recent years. Filipino villagers living in a fishing village on Thitu, which they call Pagasa island, immediately informed the Philippine military and coast guard after seeing the Chinese ship lying in the shallows about 1.5 nautical miles (2.7 kilometers) from their village, MP Albayda, a local Filipino official, told The Associated Press. The stricken ship resembled what the Philippine military had repeatedly said were suspected Chinese militia ships, which had backed the Chinese coast guard and navy in blocking and harassing Philippine coast guard and military vessels in the disputed waters, a busy conduit for global trade and commerce. Thitu Island is home to a Philippine fishing village and Filipino forces and is the largest of nine islands and islets occupied by the Philippines. It lies about 26 kilometers from Subi Reef, which China transformed into an island base along with six other barren reefs to reinforce its claim to virtually the entire South China Sea. Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan are also involved in the long-simmering territorial standoffs, an Asian flashpoint that many fear could pit China and the United States in a major conflict. The US does not lay any claim to the South China Sea but has repeatedly warned that it is obligated to defend the Philippines, it's longtime treaty ally, if Filipino forces, ships and aircraft come under an armed attack, including in the South China Sea.
The Independent
08-06-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
Alert as Chinese ship runs aground on Philippines-occupied island
A Chinese ship ran aground in shallow waters off a Philippines -occupied island in the disputed South China Sea due to stormy weather, prompting the Philippine military to go on alert. Philippine forces deployed to provide assistance after assessing that the Chinese fishing vessel ran aground east of Thitu island, but the ship was later extricated. Filipino villagers on Thitu island informed the military and coast guard after spotting the Chinese ship close to their village; other Chinese ships then pulled the vessel away. The ship resembled suspected Chinese militia ships, which the Philippine military said have previously harassed Philippine vessels in the disputed waters. Thitu island, the largest of nine islands occupied by the Philippines, is located near Subi Reef, which China transformed into an island base to reinforce its claim to the South China Sea, a region also contested by Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan.
Washington Post
08-06-2025
- Climate
- Washington Post
Chinese ship runs aground off Philippines-occupied island in the disputed South China Sea
PUERTO PRINCESA, Philippines — A Chinese ship ran aground in stormy weather in shallow waters off a Philippines-occupied island in the disputed South China Sea, prompting Filipino forces to go on alert, Philippine military officials said Sunday. When Filipino forces assessed that the Chinese fishing vessel appeared to have run aground in the shallows east of Thitu Island on Saturday because of bad weather, Philippine military and coast guard personnel deployed to provide help but later saw that the ship had been extricated, regional navy spokesperson Ellaine Rose Collado said.
Al Arabiya
08-06-2025
- General
- Al Arabiya
Chinese ship runs aground off Philippines-occupied island in the disputed South China Sea
A Chinese ship ran aground in stormy weather in shallow waters off a Philippines-occupied island in the disputed South China Sea, prompting Filipino forces to go on alert, Philippine military officials said Sunday. When Filipino forces assessed that the Chinese fishing vessel appeared to have run aground in the shallows east of Thitu Island on Saturday because of bad weather, Philippine military and coast guard personnel deployed to provide help but later saw that the ship had been extricated, regional navy spokesperson Ellaine Rose Collado said. No other details were immediately available, including if there were injuries among the crew members or if the ship was damaged, Collado said. Confrontations have spiked between Chinese and Philippine coast guard and navy ships in the disputed waters in recent years. 'The alertness of our troops is always there,' Col. Xerxes Trinidad of the Armed Forces of the Philippines told reporters. But when they saw that a probable accident had happened, 'we tried to provide assistance as professionals' in accordance with international law on helping distressed vessels at sea. 'We're always following international law,' Trinidad said. Filipino villagers living in a fishing village on Thitu, which they call Pagasa island, immediately informed the Philippine military and coast guard after seeing the Chinese ship lying in the shallows about 1.5 nautical miles (2.7 kilometers) from their village, said MP Albayda, a local Filipino official, told The Associated Press. 'They got worried because the Chinese were so close, but it was really the strong wind and waves that caused the ship to run aground,' said Albayda, adding that other Chinese ships pulled the stricken vessel away. The stricken ship resembled what the Philippine military had repeatedly said were suspected Chinese militia ships, which had backed the Chinese coast guard and navy in blocking and harassing Philippine coast guard and military vessels in the disputed waters, a busy conduit for global trade and commerce. Thitu Island is home to a Philippine fishing village and Filipino forces and is the largest of nine islands and islets occupied by the Philippines. It lies about 26 kilometers (16 miles) from Subi Reef, which China transformed into an island base along with six other barren reefs to reinforce its claim to virtually the entire South China Sea. Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan are also involved in the long-simmering territorial standoffs, an Asian flashpoint that many fear could pit China and the United States in a major conflict. The US does not lay any claim to the South China Sea but has repeatedly warned that it's obligated to defend the Philippines, it's longtime treaty ally, if Filipino forces, ships and aircraft come under an armed attack, including in the South China Sea.
