South China Sea island community stands up to Beijing

From the sandy beaches of Thitu Island, blue waters stretch for as far as the eye can see. It feels like a tranquil paradise: there's no noisy road traffic, air pollution or crowds. But Thitu is not a luxury retreat, it's a tiny island in the remote Spratly chain and one of the world's most fiercely contested maritime sites.

- Rebecca Ratcliffe and Guill Ramos

Thitu has been occupied by the Philippines since 1974 and is home to 387 civilians. However, China also claims the island and much of the surrounding South China Sea. Thitu and its people are on the frontline of an intensifying struggle against their superpower neighbour.

As is the case for many other sites in the South China Sea, even the island's name is controversial. The Philippines calls it Pag-asa Island (meaning "hope" in Tagalog), while the other claimants, China, Vietnam and Taiwan, use separate names. The name Thitu is used by international courts.

"We will not leave the island, no matter what happens," said Larry Hugo, head of the fishing association on Thitu. Over the years he has been chased by Chinese vessels and has seen the number of Chinese boats plying the waters off Thitu grow, joined by aircraft and drones.