Manila fortifies South China Sea outpost to last another decade

The Philippines has carried out substantial reinforcements on a grounded World War II-era ship in the contested South China Sea, enough to make the outpost at the centre of tensions with Beijing last at least another decade, according to four people familiar with the matter.

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President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s government ramped up efforts to maintain the military outpost at the Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands after taking office in 2022, two of the people said.

The BRP Sierra Madre was first deposited on the reef in 1999 in a move meant to push back against Beijing’s expansive claims in the region.

In 2021, the rusty and decrepit Sierra Madre was thought to have a remaining lifespan of only three to five years, one of the people said.

While some efforts were previously made to fortify the ship, Mr Marcos’ government accelerated that work, two of the people said.

The improvements to the outpost – where the Philippines maintains a handful of troops which it has to regularly resupply with fresh food, water and basic goods – have been sufficient to fortify it for years, according to three of the people.