Chinese coast guard seizes disputed Sandy Cay reef near key Philippine military outpost, escalating South China Sea tensions


BEIJING, April 27 — The Chinese coast guard has seized control of a disputed reef near a major Philippine military outpost in the South China Sea, according to Beijing’s state media, adding to longstanding territorial tensions with Manila.


Beijing claims sovereignty over almost all of the South China Sea and has waved away competing assertions from other regional countries as well as an international ruling that its position has no legal basis.

China and the Philippines have engaged in months of confrontations in the contested waters, and Manila is currently taking part in sweeping joint military drills with the United States that Beijing has slammed as destabilising.

The Chinese coast guard “implemented maritime control” over the Tiexian Reef, also known as Sandy Cay, during the middle of April, state broadcaster CCTV reported yesterday.

disputed Sandy Cay reef

The island has been occupied by Vietnam since 1974 (first by South Vietnam, then by the Socialist Republic of Vietnam after 1975). It is also claimed by China (PRC), the Philippines, Vietnam, and Taiwan (ROC).

Really just a pile of sands.

Yes, but it's to "expand" their territory. With this pile of sand under their control, they can do whatever they want, without repercussions.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/east-asia/c...outpost-5092681

CCTV said the coast guard landed on Sandy Cay to "exercise sovereignty and jurisdiction" over the reef, carry out an "inspection" and "collect video evidence regarding the illegal activities of the Philippine side".

The broadcaster published a photograph of five black-clad people standing on the uninhabited reef as a dark inflatable boat bobbed in the nearby water.

Another shot showed four coast guard officials posing with a national flag on the reef's white surface, in what CCTV described as a "vow of sovereignty".

The group also "cleaned up leftover plastic bottles, wooden sticks and other debris and garbage on the reef", the broadcaster said.

The Financial Times reported an unnamed Philippine maritime official as saying that the Chinese coast guard had left after unfurling the flag.

There do not appear to be any signs that China has permanently occupied the reef or has built a structure on it.
Ceh... Mana "seize" la

For all our dear wumaos.

https://amti.csis.org/island-tracker/china/

#DoneClaim

Ada track how many reefs within Malaysia EEZ occupied by Vietnam?
Ada track berapa Kali Vietnam/ Philippines fishing boats invaded our EEZ?
Ada track berapa kali pinoy lanun kidnapped and killed Malaysian?

Ada track how many reefs within Malaysia EEZ occupied by Vietnam?
Ada track berapa Kali Vietnam/ Philippines fishing boats invaded our EEZ?
Ada track berapa kali pinoy lanun kidnapped and killed Malaysian?

The only one to build so many militarized islands in SCS is China. That is all ayam wanna say.

Oh really
Vietnam has occupied and setup permanent military posts at amboyna and barque Canada since 1980s.
Now expending them and building military airstrips.