China has planted its national flag on Sandy Cay, a disputed reef in the South China Sea, asserting sovereignty in a move sure to heighten tensions with the Philippines.
State media in China announced that coast guard officers went ashore on the reef, also known as Tiexian Jiao by China, in mid-April, exercising “maritime control” and removing rubbish that allegedly had been left by Filipino personnel. China’s Foreign Ministry defended the action as legitimate, in response to “illegal” Philippine activity.
The Philippines squarely rejected China’s claim, categorizing news on occupation as “fake news.” Manila claimed it recently conducted legally allowed activities within Sandy Cay that lies in its exclusive economic zone, defined regionally as the West Philippine Sea. The Philippines claims that Chinese officers left Sandy Cay as soon as the flag was planted, and there is no permanent Chinese presence there.
According to the Financial Times, Sandy Cay is strategically important: according to the International Law of the Sea, control of the island gives the right to territorial waters within a radius of 12 nautical miles. This region includes Titu Island, a strategic Philippine outpost where facilities, including a runway, have been increasingly modernized since 2023.
The accident happened as preparations are under way for the largest annual US-Philippine joint military exercise starting 28 April that involves exercises for coastal defense and island seizure maneuvers near the Spratly archipelago.
