The Chinese coastguard has claimed Sandy Cay, a small sandbank close to the Philippines’ Thitu Island, which hosts a Philippine military post, according to state media.
On Friday, China Central Television (CCTV) released images showing four Chinese officers planting a flag on the sandbank. The news outlet stated that China had “implemented maritime control and exercised sovereign jurisdiction” over the area earlier in April.
Law enforcement personnel of the China Coast Guard (CCG) patrolled on the Tiexian Jiao in the south China Sea in mid-April, and collected video evidence of the Philippines’ illegal activities, according to the CCG.https://t.co/IJ9f3XuZ2n pic.twitter.com/UBi0ujctEm
— CCTV+ (@CCTV_Plus) April 25, 2025
The Philippines responded by landing troops on three nearby sandbanks on Sunday.
Photos and videos released by state-run People’s Television Network showed the Filipino forces holding the national flag. The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) reported that there was no sign of permanent Chinese presence but reported the “illegal presence” of a Chinese coastguard vessel 1,000 yards from one sandbank and seven Chinese militia boats nearby.
JUST IN: The National Task Force – West Philippine Sea released photos and videos of the Inter-Agency Maritime Operation completed this morning, April 27, 2025, at Pag-asa Cay 1, Cay 2, Cay 3, and the surrounding waters. pic.twitter.com/mWJPWRTmfC
— PTVph (@PTVph) April 27, 2025
The U.S. government called the situation “deeply concerning.” James Hewitt, spokesperson for the U.S. National Security Council said the move “threatens regional stability and violates international law.”
The incident coincides with the ongoing joint military exercises between the U.S. and the Philippines, involving 17,000 troops. The drills feature U.S. missile systems and anti-ship operations. China has criticized the exercises as provocative and accused the Philippines of “collusion with countries outside the region.”
EXERCISE BALIKATAN | PH, US Naval Forces Conduct Live-Fire Gunnery Exercise Off Zambales
The Armed Forces of the Philippines led a successful Gunnery Exercise (GUNNEX) on April 25 at 21 nautical miles west of the coast of San Felipe, Zambales, as part of the ongoing Multilateral… pic.twitter.com/QwZFgnzYcP
— Armed Forces of the Philippines (@TeamAFP) April 26, 2025
Sandy Cay is about 200 square meters in size and lies close to Thitu Island. The area is part of the larger dispute over the South China Sea, where China claims territory within its “nine-dash line,” despite international rulings rejecting those claims.
The confrontation adds to growing clashes between Chinese and Philippine forces, including previous incidents of ships colliding and blocking maneuvers.
