Members of the Philippine Coast Guard participate during a training on navigation, small boat operations, maintenance, and logistical operations in the West Philippine Sea in Palawan on April 24, 2021. Photo courtesy of the Philippine Coast Guard 

MANILA — Manila on Monday debunked a Chinese state media report claiming that Beijing had seized control of Sandy Cay, a tiny sandbank near the Philippine-occupied Pag-asa Island (Thitu Island) in the West Philippine Sea.

“We have not lost the Pag-asa Cays,” said National Security Council Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya in a media briefing in Manila.

“There is no truth whatsoever to the claim of the Chinese Coast Guard that the Pag-asa Cay has been seized. The facts on the ground do not support the statement coming from the China Coast Guard,” he added.

China says handled Philippine 'infringement' at disputed reef

Chinese state media said Saturday that the country's coast guard "implemented maritime control" over the Sandy Cay back in the middle of April. On Sunday, Chinese coast guard spokesperson Liu Dejun said they had "dealt with" a situation involving six Filipinos who they accused of "illegally" boarding the sandbank despite "warnings and dissuasion" from the Chinese side.

The Philippines on the same day deployed 4 teams from the Inter-Agency Maritime Operation to verify China’s claim. They did not find any presence of Chinese forces on the cays but monitored China Coast Guard and militia vessels loitering nearby, according to Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela.

China state broadcaster CCTV earlier released images of four officers, wearing all black and holding the Chinese flag, standing on the reef of Sandy Cay.

Following the Philippine operation in the area, however, Tarriela said the report was a “lie and disinformation,” as he showed photos and videos of Philippine enforcement personnel also holding a Philippine flag on Sandy Cay to prove that there was no Chinese occupation there.

“We have provided photos and videos to tell the Filipino people that the national government is doing everything that is necessary for us to make sure that we’re not losing an inch of our territory,” Tarriela said.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro added: “Tuloy-tuloy pa din po ang pag protekta sa lahat ng karapatan ng bansa na naaayon sa international law pero may paniniguro na ito ay para sa peace and stability.”

“We can’t speak for China kung ano man ang adhikain, layunin o plano ng China,” Castro said in a press briefing when asked if China’s actions could be construed as a “provocation.”

Beijing's foreign ministry on Monday reiterated its claim that the reef is part of China's territory and said its moves constituted "rights protection and law enforcement activities".

Spokesman Guo Jiakun said the steps were "aimed at countering the Philippines' illegal landing and other acts of infringement and provocation" as well as "firmly safeguarding national territorial sovereignty".

READY TO PUSH BACK

Philippine officials said the report was part of China’s disinformation tactics, and the government will always “push back” against false narratives.

“We will push back and we will not allow falsehood remain unanswered,” Malaya said.

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“The information space nowadays is also a battleground. So, it’s really a matter of trying to dominate the information narratives coming from various sources. So, it is to the interest of the PRC if they are able to utilize the information space to intimidate and harass. So, this is also one form of grey zone operation on the part of the PRC,” he added.

Tarriela added: “Right now, they are starting with the misinformation, telling the world, convincing the international community that they have already seized Pag-asa Cays 1, 2, and 3. And then, if we’re not going to debunk it, if we’re not going to address such a lie, that will be the time that they’re going to change and maintain that and operationalize such misinformation.”

Malaya reminded China of its commitment to the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct (DOC) of Parties in the South China Sea, where it was agreed that there would be no occupation of unoccupied features in the disputed waters to promote the peaceful resolution of disputes.

House Speaker Martin Romualdez also denounced China’s actions regarding Sandy Cay, which he called “desperate and cheap stunts” meant to “mislead and bolster their illegitimate claims”. 

He issued the statement as the National Security Council debunked on Monday a Chinese state media report claiming that Beijing had seized control of Sandy Cay, a tiny sandbank near the Philippine-occupied Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea. 

Romualdez asserted, Sandy Cay is “unquestionably part of Philippine territory”. 

“Let me be clear: Sandy Cay, located just 4 nautical miles from our own Pag-asa Island, is Philippine territory. We have continuously and effectively exercised jurisdiction over it. The 2016 Arbitral Award has already invalidated China’s sweeping and baseless claims across the South China Sea, including Sandy Cay,” Romualdez said. 

The House Speaker called on China to stop “reckless provocations and respect international law”. 

“The House of Representatives will continue to support all efforts by the Executive branch, our armed forces, and our law enforcement agencies to protect our people, our territory, and our future,” Romualdez said. 

“I call on China: Cease these reckless provocations. Respect international law. Stop these cheap stunts,” he stressed.

West Philippine Sea exists in law and in practice — maritime law expert

Beijing claims sovereignty over almost all of the South China Sea and has waved away competing assertions from other countries in the region 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 destabilizing.

Philippines, US launch joint drills aimed at 'deterrence'

With a report from Agence France-Presse

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