Philippine officials visit disputed Thitu IslandReuters, THITU ISLAND, South China SeaAs the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) plane descended toward the country’s most strategically important outpost in the disputed South China Sea, passengers’ phones lit up with a roaming alert: “Welcome to CHINA.”Among those on board were Philippine Senator Risa Hontiveros and PCG spokesman Jay Tarriela, both outspoken critics of Beijing’s actions in the South China Sea. A Philippine Coast Guard member uses his phone to record a view of Philippine-occupied Thitu Island while onboard a plane in the disputed South China Sea on Saturday. A China Coast Guard ship is seen through a telescopic view in Philippine-occupied Thitu Island in the disputed South China Sea on Saturday. Residents and officials pose together inside a covered gymnasium in Philippine-occupied Thitu Island in the disputed South China Sea on Saturday. “There are times when Chinese coast guard vessels would chase us away, so we are forced to stay on one side of the island.

Source: Taipei Times February 23, 2026 18:24 UTC