MANILA, Philippines — Philippine security forces completed a joint operation on Sunday, April 27, to assert the country's authority over several small islands near Pag-asa as China stepped up its activities in the area by seizing nearby Sandy Cay.
The Inter-Agency Maritime Operation, led by the Philippine Navy, the Philippine Coast Guard, and the Philippine National Police's Maritime Group, deployed four teams aboard rubber boats to Cays 1, 2, and 3. Teams One and Two reached Cay-1, Team Three landed at Cay-2, and Team Four arrived at Cay-3.
During the operation, the Philippine teams spotted China Coast Guard vessel 5102 about 1,000 yards east of Cay-2, along with seven Chinese Maritime Militia vessels near Cay-2 and Cay-3. Despite their presence, Philippine forces carried out their mission without interference.
In a statement issued Sunday night, the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) said the operation showed "the unwavering dedication and commitment of the Philippine government to uphold its sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction" in the West Philippine Sea.
The NTF-WPS emphasized that the Philippines holds routine operations that are lawful under international law, and that it will continue to monitor, patrol, and protect the country's maritime domain.
"The operation reinforces the Philippines' adherence to a rules-based international order and its commitment to the peaceful resolution of disputes," the task force said.
China Coast Guard forces earlier planted their flag and declared "sovereign jurisdiction" over Sandy Cay — a tiny sandbank just a few kilometers from Pag-asa Island.
Chinese state media confirmed the action, marking the first time in years that Beijing seized an unoccupied land feature in the disputed Spratly Islands.
Sandy Cay, while small at about 200 square meters, holds strategic importance. Under international law, it could generate a 12-nautical-mile territorial sea, overlapping waters near Pag-asa. Philippine officials worry that China's action could allow it to restrict Philippine access to its own island and increase harassment of Philippine patrols.