Philippine President Duterte says he may visit Thitu Island in the Spratlys

Mr. Duterte announced that he might visit Thi Tu Island, which the Philippines is illegally occupying from Vietnam in Truong Sa.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. Photo: Reuters

"On the upcoming Independence Day (June 12), I may go to Pagasa Island to raise the national flag,"Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte announced today, according to Reuters. Pagasa is the Philippines' name for Thi Tu Island in Vietnam's Truong Sa archipelago.

Duterte's statement came two days after his country's foreign minister said China and ASEAN had made progress in formulating a framework for a code of conduct in the South China Sea.

Thitu Island belongs to Vietnam's Truong Sa archipelago, currently occupied by the Philippines.The Philippines occupies nine features in the Spratlys, including Second Thomas Shoal. It has stationed troops on a World War II transport ship stranded there.

Thitu Islandlocated near Subi Reef, also part of Vietnam's Truong Sa archipelago.Subi is one of seven reefs where China has illegally built artificial islands. Experts say Beijing has militarized these artificial islands by deploying surface-to-air missiles and other weapons.

During his election campaign last year, Mr. Duterte said he would fly to an artificial island reclaimed by China in the South China Sea to claim Manila's sovereignty.

Last month, Philippine Defense SecretaryDelfin Lorenzana said the country's military will strengthen its occupied facilities in the Spratlys, build new ports, pave airport runways and repair existing structures.

According to VNE