The National Maritime Council (NMC) on May 3 firmly rejected China’s reported “seizure” of Sandy Cay near Pag-asa Island, calling it a calculated disinformation effort aimed at distorting facts and asserting false control over Philippine territory in the West Philippine Sea.
On April 25, Beijing’s state media reported that the Chinese Coast Guard had taken control of Sandy Cay and released a photo showing coast guard officers with China’s flag planted on the disputed reef.
In a sharply worded statement, the NMC denounced China’s claim of control over Sandy Cay, also known as Pag-asa Cay 2, as a propaganda tactic. The sandbar lies just west of Pag-asa Island, within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, and forms part of the Kalayaan Island Group in Palawan.
According to the council, Beijing’s state-run media has been used as a tool to spread confusion and legitimize China’s expansive and illegal claims in the South China Sea, despite a 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated its so-called “nine-dash line”.
“The alleged seizure of Pag-asa Cay 2 (Sandy Cay), an integral part of the Philippine national territory in the West Philippine Sea, was a clear example of the disinformation activities of the Chinese government, where it made it appears that China has effective control of the cay by displaying its flag and conducting waste collection,” the NMC said.
The council emphasized that the Philippines remains steadfast in asserting its maritime entitlements and will not be deterred by misinformation.
“The Philippines is firm in protecting its vast maritime domain and is unwavering in fighting false allegations that detract from the country’s lawful exercise of its sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction,” it added.
The statement followed a report from Chinese state broadcaster CCTV claiming that the Chinese Coast Guard had “implemented maritime control” over Sandy Cay, referred to by China as Tiexian Jiao, last month. The claim was immediately countered by Philippine authorities.
On April 27, the Philippine Navy, Coast Guard, and PNP-Maritime Group conducted a routine patrol to Sandy Cay. Philippine forces raised the national flag on the sandbar and patrolled surrounding waters, including Cay 1 and Cay 3, reaffirming the country’s effective jurisdiction.
The NMC also raised concerns over environmental damage caused by China’s growing presence in the region. It pointed to ongoing degradation around Zamora Reef (internationally known as Subi Reef), which lies close to Pag-asa Island and has undergone extensive Chinese reclamation in recent years.
The council urged Beijing to abide by international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and to respect the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award, which ruled in favor of the Philippines. It also called for the full implementation of the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.
“The Philippines will consistently pursue peaceful means for resolving disputes and constructive approaches to managing differences, while also continuing its lawful and routine activities in the West Philippine Sea, consistent with its maritime entitlements under international law,” the NMC said.
Meanwhile, tensions continued to rise as Vietnam issued its own protest, denouncing both China and the Philippines for recent activities near Sandy Cay.
Vietnamese foreign ministry spokesperson Pham Thu Hang, in a statement posted on the government’s official website on May 3, said Hanoi had issued protest notes to the countries involved regarding violations of its sovereignty over Sandy Cay.
Vietnam reiterated its longstanding claim over the Spratly Islands, where Sandy Cay is located. It stated that the Spratly Islands are part of its territory and called on the concerned parties to respect its rights and avoid actions that further escalate tensions.
Sandy Cay lies close to Thitu Island, known locally as Pag-asa Island, which is occupied and administered by the Philippines. The island hosts a small civilian community and a military detachment.
The broader region remains a flashpoint in the ongoing territorial disputes involving China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and others. Despite the 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, which declared China’s sweeping claims to have no legal basis, Beijing continues to expand its military and maritime footprint across the South China Sea.
The waterway is not only rich in oil, gas, and marine resources but also serves as a vital international shipping route. As China intensifies its activities, its neighbors remain wary of what they view as incremental moves to establish de facto control over contested waters.
Sandy Cay has become the latest flashpoint in the Philippines – China standoff, with both sides staging dueling flag-raisings in a symbolic show of sovereignty over disputed territory.
The Philippines’ latest actions to reaffirm its presence on Sandy Cay signal its intent to counter Chinese narratives and maintain a visible and lawful presence within its maritime domain.
Photo credit: Armed Forces of the Philippines. Philippine Navy, Coast Guard, and National Police personnel landed on three contested features in the South China Sea on April 27 to assert the country’s maritime jurisdiction following a similar China Coast Guard operation earlier that month.
