NEWS

By Franco Jose C. Baroña | The Manila Times | September 1, 2026

THE Philippines continues to build a shelter port on Lawak Island in the West Philippine Sea despite China’s opposition to Manila’s development activities on the Philippine-held feature.

Recent satellite imagery showed sustained construction at the facility on Lawak, also known as Nanshan Island, indicating that work has continued despite Beijing’s objections.

Satellite images analyzed by the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) showed that construction of the port was progressing, although the project remained in its early stages. Images taken between October 2025 and April 2026 showed the continued expansion of the port area.

Harrison Prétat, deputy director of AMTI, said the project could improve the Philippines’ ability to sustain operations on the island by making it easier to resupply and operate from the outpost.

The shelter port is intended to improve maritime access to Lawak and provide safer facilities for vessels transporting personnel, supplies and equipment.

The project will improve existing port facilities, whose shallow waters and narrow entrance limit the types of vessels that can safely reach the island. A larger and more accessible facility would make resupply and other maritime operations more efficient.

Lawak is one of the Philippine-occupied features in the Kalayaan Island Group in the Spratlys. It is administered by the municipality of Kalayaan in Palawan.

The project forms part of the Philippine government’s broader effort to improve infrastructure and logistical access to its outposts in the West Philippine Sea amid continuing tensions with China over competing territorial and maritime claims in the South China Sea.

Beijing maintains sweeping claims over much of the South China Sea, including waters within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

The Philippine government has maintained that it has the right to develop and improve facilities on features under its administration and occupation.

The infrastructure buildup also includes improvements on Pag-asa Island, including its runway and other support facilities, as well as efforts to strengthen the presence of government agencies in the Kalayaan Island Group.

The projects aim to support Filipino personnel stationed on Philippine-held features, improve maritime safety and facilitate the delivery of supplies.

They are being pursued alongside the Philippines’ expanded maritime patrol and surveillance activities in the West Philippine Sea.

Source: The Manila Times

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