Beijing seizes tiny sandbank in South China Sea
The Chinese coastguard has seized a small sandbank in the disputed South China Sea, intensifying tensions with the Philippines.
Images released recently show four Chinese coastguard officers, dressed in black and holding the national flag, standing on Sandy Cay, a tiny reef located in the Spratly Islands chain. China stated that it had “implemented maritime control and exercised sovereign jurisdiction” over the reef earlier in April.
The Philippine government has yet to issue an official response. Both nations claim various parts of the Spratly Islands, and tensions between them have escalated in recent months, with repeated maritime confrontations, vessel collisions, and physical scuffles.
Sandy Cay lies close to Thitu Island, a Philippine military outpost used to monitor Chinese activity in the region.
At present, there are no indications that China intends to permanently occupy the 200-square-meter sandbank. Reports suggest the Chinese coastguard has already departed the area.
The White House called the reports of China’s action “deeply concerning if true.” A spokesperson for the US National Security Council warned that moves like this “threaten regional stability and violate international law,” emphasizing that Washington is consulting closely with its partners in response.
This development coincides with ongoing US-Philippines joint military drills, known as the Balikatan exercises. China has criticized these drills, labeling them provocative.
Up to 17,000 personnel are participating in the exercises, which include the firing of missiles from the US Marine Air Defense Integrated System off the coast of northern Philippines — marking its second live-fire test and its first deployment to the country. The drills also feature the deployment of the US Navy’s NMESIS anti-ship missile system.
The Philippine military maintains that these exercises are aimed at strengthening national defense capabilities and are not directed at any particular country.
“This type of training is absolutely invaluable to us,” said Third Marine Littoral Regiment Officer John Lehane, emphasizing the importance of readiness.
The exercises also serve to reassure regional allies about the continuity of US support, despite concerns that future political shifts could impact longstanding military partnerships. During a recent visit to Manila, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed Washington’s commitment to “doubling down” on its alliance with the Philippines and “re-establishing deterrence” against China.
Territorial disputes in the South China Sea have persisted for centuries, but tensions have significantly increased in recent years.
China claims the largest portion of the sea, marked by its controversial “nine-dash line” — a boundary that stretches hundreds of miles from the southern Chinese province of Hainan. Beijing has reinforced these claims with extensive island-building projects and regular naval patrols.
Other countries, including Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Brunei, also lay claim to various islands and maritime zones within the South China Sea.
The situation remains highly volatile, with the risk of further escalation looming over one of the world’s most strategically significant waterways.