Philippines Builds Lawak Island Base Amid China's Alarm

The purpose of the Lawak Island port project for the Philippines is both practical and strategic. Lawak's existing maritime access has long been restricted by a narrow entrance and shallow water, which has limited the size and type of vessels that can approach the outpost.

This investment in infrastructure reflects Manila's strategy to bolster its maritime presence and operational capabilities. Contract budgets for this and similar developments have reached into the hundreds of millions, underscoring the significance of these projects.

Improved access to Lawak Island would make it easier for the Philippines to resupply and operate from the outpost, as explained by Harrison Pratat, deputy director of the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative. Enhanced infrastructure is critical for logistical sustainability in remote features that are separated by hundreds of kilometers from Palawan.

Experts note that the project makes the island more sustainable as an operational hub, facilitating better resupply, personnel rotation, and monitoring capabilities.

The Lawak project is part of a broader infrastructure investment program by Manila, which includes runway and port expansions on Pagasa Island. Pagasa Island is currently undergoing a runway extension, expanding from 1.3 kilometers to 1.5 kilometers, with 1.65 billion pesos allocated in the 2025 budget for its development.

Taken together, the Lawak and Pagasa projects show how Manila is gradually attempting to make its occupied features more sustainable instead of treating them simply as isolated military positions, aiming for a more continuous and functional presence.

China’s Ministry of National Defense formally protested the construction on Lawak Island, citing claims of sovereignty over the Spratly Islands. Senior Colonel Zhang Bin stated that China firmly opposes the Philippines' construction activities on any "Chinese islands and reefs they illegally occupied."

He further asserted that China reserves the right to take measures to protect its territorial sovereignty.

The Philippine Department of National Defense defended the Lawak Island project, citing the 2016 arbitral ruling as the foundation for its legal position. The department argued that Philippine construction and development activities are intended to improve the safety, welfare, and livelihood of Filipinos living or working in these areas.

The 2016 ruling remains a central legal strategy against China's 'nine-dash line' claims, as the arbitral tribunal found no legal basis for historic rights within that line.

The 2016 arbitration tribunal explicitly emphasized that it was not ruling on sovereignty over land territory. It also clarified that it was not delimiting maritime boundaries between the Philippines and China.

The tribunal's focus was primarily on maritime entitlements and historic rights, rather than direct territorial claims.

Under the tribunal's interpretation of Article 121 of UNCLOS, the relevant high-tide Spratly features do not generate independent 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zones. Lawak Island is identified by the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) as a rock.

This classification means it may generate a territorial sea of up to 12 nautical miles, but not an exclusive economic zone or continental shelf of its own.

Building a port does not legally settle land sovereignty disputes, but infrastructure can still have enormous practical consequences. A country that can regularly supply its personnel, dock government vessels, maintain communications equipment, and operate continuously from an occupied feature is in a much stronger position to sustain its presence there.

Physical access and the ability to maintain operations are critical factors in contested maritime zones, allowing for a more robust and enduring presence.

Under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the Philippines has adopted a much more visible strategy toward Chinese activity in disputed waters. Instead of keeping most maritime encounters out of public view, Philippine agencies increasingly release photographs, videos, and operational information about encounters with Chinese Coast Guard, Naval, and Maritime Forces.

This administration also continues to invest in coast guard vessels, surveillance capabilities, and foreign alliances to strengthen its position.

A completed harbor on Lawak Island would not transform the military balance in the South China Sea, as Manila's immediate goal is not necessarily to match China ship for ship. Instead, the project aims to make Philippine operations more sustainable.

The primary objective is to reduce dependence on small-boat transfers and to mitigate risks from adverse weather and sea conditions by providing sheltered access.

Frequent encounters at Second Thomas Shoal and Scarborough Shoal illustrate the persistent tensions in the South China Sea. In July, the Philippine and Chinese foreign ministers exchanged protests following another confrontation near Second Thomas Shoal, demonstrating how quickly operational disputes can escalate into diplomatic crises.

Beijing continues to reject the 2016 arbitration award, maintaining its claims over the disputed territories, which further fuels the disputes.

Most importantly, the construction on Lawak Island signals that Manila is planning for a long-term presence in the disputed region. Lawak may be small, but its location places it inside one of the world's most strategically sensitive maritime regions.

This infrastructure development aims to improve working conditions and enhance maritime awareness for personnel stationed there. Manila is not treating the Lawak project as a temporary measure, but rather as a foundational step in its long-term strategy to make remote positions accessible and sustainable, solidifying its claims and presence.