The China Coast Guard Sandy Cay incident has intensified tensions in the West Philippine Sea after Chinese forces raised their flag and declared “sovereign jurisdiction” over the reef, according to Chinese state media.
The Global Times reported that the event took place in mid-April, with China Coast Guard personnel conducting inspections and cleanup operations on the reef.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) confirmed that the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) will release an official statement regarding the incident.
Sandy Cay, known in the Philippines as Pag-asa Cay 2, lies near Pag-asa Island, home to stationed Filipino soldiers and a small civilian community.
In January, the Philippine Coast Guard accused the China Coast Guard and Chinese Navy of harassing Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessels en route to Sandy Cay for a marine survey.
The harassment followed earlier reports of crushed corals being dumped in the area, further aggravating maritime tensions.