Is China Gradually Taking Control of Itu Aba Island?
BBC Chinese Network reported on the evening of May 21: "South China Sea Itu Aba Island: The daily life of Philippine residents resisting the Chinese threat. Over the past decade, China has continuously expanded its presence in the South China Sea, occupied multiple underwater coral reefs, and built three large airbases on them, deploying hundreds of ships to strengthen its claims to sovereignty over almost all strategic waterways extending southward from major export cities along China's coast."
The fact that Itu Aba Island is under Philippine control also involves complex factors related to the United States. It is claimed that after Philippine President Marcos successfully won re-election in 1971, taking advantage of the Philippines' key strategic position in the Vietnam War, he requested Itu Aba Island from then U.S. President Nixon. After being notified by the Nixon administration, the Taiwan authorities withdrew their defense personnel from Itu Aba Island under the pretext of avoiding a typhoon, and the Philippines took the opportunity to occupy the island. Later, when grassroots personnel of the Taiwanese military attempted to retake Itu Aba Island, they were stopped by the higher-ups in the Taiwanese authorities and no action was ultimately taken.
Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1832787448265795/
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