Dispute Between China and Philippines Escalates With Competing Flag Displays on Sandbanks

The quality betwixt China and the Philippines successful the South China Sea escalated connected Sunday, April 27, arsenic some displayed their flags connected a acceptable of sandbanks claimed by some nations.

On April 25, China’s authorities broadcaster CCTV said China had the seized the sandbank.

CCTV said China had “implemented maritime power and exercised sovereign jurisdiction” connected the reef earlier successful April. The transmission released images of 4 officers, wearing each achromatic and holding the Chinese flag, lasting connected the disputed reef of Sandy Cay successful the Spratly Islands.

The Philippine Coast Guard released footage and images connected Sunday, April 27, showing a squad connected the aforesaid sandbank displaying the emblem of the Philippines.

Jay Tarriela, a spokesperson for the Philippine Coast Guard, said that nationalist authorities concluded an cognition successful the country with the purpose of “reinforcing Philippine authorities’ regular and lawful workout of maritime domain consciousness and jurisdiction implicit the West Philippine Sea.”

China responded connected Sunday, accusing Philippine unit of “illegally landing” connected the Tiexian Reef “despite China’s warnings and dissuasion”.

“China has indisputable sovereignty implicit the Nansha Islands, including the Tiexian Reef, and its surrounding waters,” the spokesperson added. Credit: Philippine Coast Guard via Storyful