The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday declared the presence of Chinese vessels near Pag-asa (Thitu) Island in the Kalayaan Island Group “illegal.” The DFA said Pag-asa Island is part of the Kalayaan or Spratly group, “an integral part of the Philippines over which it has sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction.” Assistant Secretary Emmanuel Fernandez stressed this in a statement amid the reported huge number of Chinese vessels circling Pag-asa Island in the contested West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

Tamayo, B. E., & Reyes, D. (2019, April 5). Chinese presence near island 'illegal'. The Manila Times, pp. A1, A2.