China, Philippines conduct competing photo ops, displaying their flags on a disputed sandbank

Amid the brewing tensions in the Indo-Pacific region, China and the Philippines have displayed their respective national flags in competing photos on a disputed sandbank in the South China Sea. The region in question is Sandy Cay, which is part of the disputed Spratly Islands. The displays from both nations came days after the US and the Philippines launched their annual joint military drills called “Balikatan”, or “shoulder to shoulder”.

According to The Guardian, this year the drills will include an integrated air and missile defence simulation for the first time. On Thursday, the Chinese state media reported that the country’s Coast Guard landed on the disputed reef two weeks ago, unfurled a flag and “exercised sovereign jurisdiction”.

On Sunday, the Chinese coast guard went on to accuse six Filipino personnel of “illegally boarding” Sandy Cay, which Beijing calls Tiexian Reef, despite “warnings and dissuasion”. China’s spokesperson Liu Dejun said coast guard personnel then “boarded the reef and investigated and dealt with it in accordance with the law”.

“We urge the Philippines to immediately stop its infringement,” Liu said, adding that the actions “violated China’s territorial sovereignty”. It is pertinent to note that Sandy Cay is just a few kilometres from Thitu Island, where the Philippines maintains a military outpost.

The Philippines hits back

On Monday, Philippine officials disputed China’s claim that it had gained control. “The facts on the ground belie their statements,” National Security Council spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said. “It is not to the benefit of any nation if these things are happening, nor is it to the benefit of any nation if such irresponsible announcements and statements are released to the public and to the world.”

Meanwhile, the Philippines Coast Guard spokesperson Jay Tarriela said that its navy, coast guard and police personnel had deployed to Sandy Cay in four rubber boats and had “observed the illegal presence” of a Chinese Coast Guard vessel and seven Chinese maritime militia vessels.

He went on to share footage of their own flag being displayed. Tarriela added, “This operation reflects the unwavering dedication and commitment of the Philippine government to uphold the country’s sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea.”

Over the years, Beijing has claimed sovereignty over almost all of the South China Sea, waving away competing assertions from other countries in the region. Not only this, but China has also ignored an international ruling that clearly stated that its position had no legal basis.

At the opening ceremony in Manila for the joint US-Philippines military drills, US Marine Corps Lieutenant General James Glynn said the two sides would “demonstrate not just our will to uphold our mutual defence treaty in existence since 1951 but our matchless capability to do so”.

“Nothing builds bonds more quickly than shared adversity,” he said, without specifying a common threat. Meanwhile, Beijing maintained that military manoeuvres “undermine regional strategic stability” and accused Manila of “collusion with countries outside the region”.

With inputs from AFP.