Ferry service: Philippines to bring more supplies, people to Pag-asa Island in Spratlys

The Philippines is increasing its stake on the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea by announcing a regular ferry service from Palawan to the remote Pag-asa Island in the disputed Spratlys.

The Western Command (WESCOM) of the Philippine Navy announced that it has started a regular ferry service to Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) with two round trips scheduled monthly from Puerto Princesa City in Palawan. Navy ships will provide ferry and logistical support to the island each time.

‘Asserting sovereignty’

“Pag-asa Island, located in the West Philippine Sea, is part of the Kalayaan Municipality and represents one of the country’s farthest and most isolated territories. As tensions heighten in the region due to the increasing presence of Chinese maritime militia vessels (CMMVs) and maritime law enforcement assets, the regular ferry service illuminates the Philippines’ commitment to asserting its sovereignty and ensuring the well-being of its citizens in the area,” the Navy Western Command said in a statement. (photo credit: WESCOM)

Pag-asa Island, also known as Thitu Island, is the fifth largest of the Spratly Islands and is administered by the municipality of Kalayaan in Palawan province. There is a small Filipino civilian settlement on Pag-asa Island of about 300 people. The Philippine Armed Forces also maintain a small military garrison on Pag-asa.

With a distance of 480 kilometers or 259 nautical miles between Puerto Princesa and Pag-asa Island, and assuming the Navy ship is cruising at 10 knots, the estimated travel time would be approximately 26 hours. or a little more than a day at sea.

Prior to this regular ferry service by the Navy, residents rely on sporadic boat trips offered by the local government and fishermen. They also hitch a ride on Navy ships that patrol the area.

One of the Navy ships that serve the route and mskes patrols is the BRP Mangyan (AS17) which had a history of being tailed by the Chinese Coast Guard in several confrontations at the South China Sea.

Pag-asa Island is a small but strategically important Philippine-controlled island as it is close to important shipping lanes. It has been effectively controlled by the Philippines for decades despite competing claims from other nations such as China.

5 facts about Pag-asa Island

Facts about Pag-asa Island that you should know:

• It is the fifth largest naturally occurring island in the Spratly Islands. The island has an area of 37.2 hectares.
• It is part of the Kalayaan Island Group, which is administered by the municipality of Kalayaan.
• Pag-asa Island has a 1.3 kilometer airstrip built by the Philippine government.
• The island is claimed by several nations including China, Taiwan, and Vietnam, but the Philippines has maintained effective control over it since the 1970s.
• Pag-asa Island is the only inhabited island controlled by the Philippines in the Spratlys.

Pag-asa Island: Filipino-controlled and symbol of Philippine claim

The island is claimed by several nations including China, Taiwan, and Vietnam, but the Philippines has maintained effective control over it since the 1970s.

In recent years Pag-asa has become a symbol of Philippines’ claims in the disputed South China Sea amid rising tensions with China over territorial disputes. The Philippine government has worked to upgrade facilities on the island and with the new ferry service going to the island twice a month, there could be more improvements on the island.

With the ferry service expected to transport people and possibly civilians, there could also be an increase in the population of Filipinos living on the island.

Operationally, the logistics of sustaining a small civilian community on Pag-asa have now become easier. The new ferry allows quick rotation of residents, facilitates supply runs, and enhances access for civilian vessels engaged in fishing or commerce around the island.

“As the world closely watches the evolving situation in the West Philippine Sea, WESCOM’s regular ferry service to Pag-asa Island stands as a testament to the Philippines’ unyielding dedication to safeguarding its remote territories and ensuring the well-being of all Filipinos living in these challenging environments,“ said the Navy’s announcement.

Pag-asa Island ferry service: Broader implications on South China Sea dispute

Strategically, this new service also strengthens the Philippine presence on Pag-asa which acts as an important outpost for projecting power and monitoring activity across the Spratlys.

The move by the Philippine government to launch a civilian ferry service between Palawan and Pag-asa Island represents an important development in the contested Spratly Islands. This new ferry reconnects Pag-asa with the Philippine mainland and underscores Manila’s claims of sovereignty over this remote island outpost.

However, the ferry equally serves as a political signal – both to the Philippine people and to rival claimants.

For Filipinos, it is a symbol of the nation’s commitment to defending its sovereignty and people in the West Philippine Sea. Yet for other claimants like China and Vietnam, it represents Manila’s resolve to normalize civilian activities and expand its imprint on contested islands like Pag-asa. While largely non-confrontational, the move will nonetheless raise tensions and could provoke reactions from regional rivals also seeking to bolster their claims.

In summary, the new Pag-asa Island ferry is a small but important development in the complex geopolitics of the South China Sea. By improving access and services for Philippine civilians, it entrenches Manila’s claims and control. But rival claimants will watch closely for signs of expanding Filipino activity around Pag-asa and the broader Spratly Islands.

Author: Gerald Lacuarta

Gerald Lacuarta is the editor and content curator of Phil Report. A former reporter of the Philippine Daily Inquirer and a managing editor of the Philippine Collegian, Gerald has written extensively on politics, courts and justice system, environment, foreign affairs, defense, media and technology. He is also a web developer and server administrator, and spends free time playing music and tinkering with cryptocurrencies.