Marine Link
Wednesday, July 23, 2025
Maritime Activity Reports, Inc.

Philippines: China did not seize disputed South China Sea Reef

Posted to Maritime Reporter on April 28, 2025

The Philippines denied on Monday that news reports claiming Beijing had seized control over a reef in dispute in the South China Sea were true, after their personnel landed and discovered no Chinese presence on the unoccupied sandbars.

The Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said on Friday that its coast guard landed at Sandy Cay in order to exercise sovereignty. The broadcaster did not state that China had occupied the feature.

CCTV showed images of four coastguard personnel wearing black combat gear and holding a Chinese Flag after they arrived on Sandy Cay in an inflatable dinghy.

Jonathan Malaya, a spokesperson for the Philippine National Security Council, said on Monday that news reports about China seizing Sandy Cay are false. A Philippine team visited the sandbars Sunday and found no one there.

Malaya stated that "the facts on the ground contradict their statements".

Malaya, using the Filipino term for the sandbars called the reports "irresponsible", said: "We are here debunk this and to assure the general public that we haven't lost the Pagasa Cays."

STRATEGIC SPRATLYS

The relationship between China and its U.S. ally, the Philippines, is strained due to heated disputes over the South China Sea. Beijing has sent an armada to the South China Sea to strengthen its claim of sovereignty over the waterway.

The Philippines is upset by China's permanent presence and conduct in its exclusive economic zones, and the fishing boats it believes are under their control. Sandy Cay lies near Thitu Island. This is the largest island in the Spratly Archipelago that Manila controls.

The man-made islands of China include ports, runways and missile systems.

The Philippines said on Sunday that it had observed what it termed illegal presence near Thitu Island of Chinese coastguard and militia vessels. China's Coast Guard responded by saying that the Philippine presence was illegal.

Malaya, the security council's Malaya, urged China to exercise restraint in order to prevent an escalated situation. She reminded Beijing that it was bound to a 2002 agreement with its Southeast Asian neighbors, which included mutual agreements not to occupy any more uninhabited areas. Both the Philippines and China are accusing each other of espionage, disinformation and further escalating diplomatic tensions. The Philippines is looking into allegations made by its security council, that Chinese state-sponsored organizations may be trying to influence the results of mid-term elections next month. Beijing rejects these claims.

(source: Reuters)

Tags: East Asia South-East Asia Asia

Subscribe for
Maritime Reporter E-News

Maritime Reporter E-News is the maritime industry's largest circulation and most authoritative ENews Service, delivered to your Email five times per week