What is the common examiner trap about Intl. Relations in UPSC exams?

They may ask which country established the base, but provide 'Vietnam' or 'Malaysia' as distractors. They might also swap the location to 'Scarborough Shoal' or 'Paracel Islands' instead of the correct 'Spratly Islands'.

What should UPSC aspirants remember about Intl. Relations for Prelims?

1. Target this Data: 68,000 sq km (area of new PCG district) 2. Target this Nodal Body: Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) 3. Target this Location: Thitu Island in the Spratly Islands chain

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Philippines Establishes First PCG Command Center on Thitu Island, Spratly Chain, Covering 68,000 sq km

Q: The newly unveiled command centre is located on which island in the South China Sea?

Thitu Island, The article explicitly states the Philippine Coast Guard command centre was unveiled on Thitu Island in the Spratly island chain. Scarborough Shoal and the Paracels are other disputed features, while Natuna Islands are controlled by Indonesia.

Q: Consider the following statements regarding the news: 1. The new coast guard command centre is the Philippines' first dedicated command in the Spratly Islands. 2. The command was previously overseen from the island of Luzon. 3. The area covered by the new district is approximately 68,000 square kilometres. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Both 1 and 3, Statement 1 is correct as per the article. Statement 2 is incorrect; the article states the command was formerly overseen from neighbouring Palawan, not Luzon. Statement 3 is correct as the article mentions the area is about 68,000 sq km.

Q: What is the approximate area (in square kilometres) that the newly established Philippine Coast Guard district will cover?

68,000 sq km, The article clearly states the headquarters will cover an area of about 68,000 square kilometres. The other figures are plausible distractors for different maritime zones in the region.

Q: What is the primary strategic objective behind the Philippines establishing this new coast guard command in the Spratly Islands?

To strengthen administrative control and security in disputed waters, The article context shows the Spratlys are a flashpoint with repeated confrontations. Establishing a dedicated command centre is a move to assert sovereignty and improve operational response to security challenges, primarily from Chinese vessels. While other options are potential secondary benefits, the core objective is security and control.

Intl. Relations Security & DefenceHIGH

Target:UPSC GS-IIMPSCSSC GATeachingPrelims HighMains Medium

09 Apr 2026

~2 min

Source: The Hindu

Key Data:68,000 square kilometresApril 9, 2026

Bodies:Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)

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~2 min · Quick mode

What This Article Covers

1.The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) inaugurated its first dedicated command centre in the Spratly Islands on Thitu Island on April 9, 2026.

2.The new coast guard district, relocated from Palawan, will oversee a maritime area of approximately 68,000 square kilometres in the flashpoint South China Sea.

3.This development is a strategic military-diplomatic move by the Philippines to assert sovereignty and manage confrontations with Chinese vessels in the disputed waters.

The Big Picture

Prelims · HighMains · Medium

The Philippines has operationalized its first dedicated coast guard command center in the disputed Spratly Islands, a significant escalation of its administrative and security presence in the South China Sea. This move directly counters China's expansive claims and frequent maritime confrontations, making it a critical update on regional security for exams.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

Date of UnveilingApril 9, 2026

LocationThitu Island, Spratly Islands

Area of Responsibility68,000 sq km (26,000 sq miles)

Oversight Relocated FromPalawan

1-Minute Revision

›Date of Unveiling: April 9, 2026
›Location: Thitu Island, Spratly Islands
›Target this Data: 68,000 sq km (area of new PCG district)
›Target this Nodal Body: Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)
›Target this Location: Thitu Island in the Spratly Islands chain

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News Snapshot

⚓

First Permanent Command

The Philippines established its first permanent Philippine Coast Guard command center in the disputed Spratly Islands.

🗺️

Strategic Geography

The new command on Thitu Island will administer a 68,000 sq km area, enhancing Manila's operational reach in the South China Sea.

⚔️

Countering China

This move is a direct response to repeated confrontations with Chinese vessels and aims to strengthen the Philippine sovereign claim.

Detailed Analysis & Strategic Depth

Context / Background

The South China Sea is a major global flashpoint where China claims most of the waters under its 'nine-dash line', conflicting with claims by the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan. The Spratly Islands are a central arena for these disputes, featuring military outposts and frequent standoffs. The 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling rejected China's claims, but Beijing has ignored it, continuing aggressive patrols and island-building.

Core Analysis & Implications

Establishing a dedicated coast guard command is a significant escalation from the Philippines' previous reliance on distant command from Palawan. It represents a shift from reactive patrols to proactive, localized administration of its claimed Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). This enhances maritime domain awareness, speeds up response to Chinese 'gray-zone' tactics (using militia and coast guard vessels), and solidifies physical presence. It also signals stronger security cooperation with allies like the US and Japan, who support a rules-based order.

Future Outlook / Way Forward

This move is likely to provoke increased Chinese patrols and pressure around Thitu Island. Future developments will involve monitoring how the Philippines uses this base for resupply missions to its other outposts and for enforcing fishing laws. The strategic balance in the region will hinge on continued US security guarantees under the Mutual Defense Treaty and the Philippines' success in multilateral diplomacy through ASEAN. Further militarization of the Spratlys by all claimants remains a serious risk.

Key Facts at a Glance

Date of UnveilingApril 9, 2026

LocationThitu Island, Spratly Islands

Area of Responsibility68,000 sq km (26,000 sq miles)

Oversight Relocated FromPalawan

You've read the full analysis. Now test your understanding.

Practice exam-style questions based on this article.

Q1Static LinkageEasyUPSC, SSC, State PSC

The newly unveiled command centre is located on which island in the South China Sea?

Q2Statement-basedHardUPSC, SSC

Consider the following statements regarding the news:

1. The new coast guard command centre is the Philippines' first dedicated command in the Spratly Islands.

2. The command was previously overseen from the island of Luzon.

3. The area covered by the new district is approximately 68,000 square kilometres.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMediumUPSC, SSC, Banking

What is the approximate area (in square kilometres) that the newly established Philippine Coast Guard district will cover?

Q4Application/ImpactMediumUPSC, SSC

What is the primary strategic objective behind the Philippines establishing this new coast guard command in the Spratly Islands?

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Philippines Establishes First PCG Command Center on Thitu Island, Spratly Chain, Covering 68,000 sq km

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

1-Minute Revision

News Snapshot

First Permanent Command

Strategic Geography

Countering China

Detailed Analysis & Strategic Depth

Context / Background

Core Analysis & Implications

Future Outlook / Way Forward

Prelims Flashpoints

Key Facts at a Glance