China seizes the disputed coral reefs in the South China Sea

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China has seized the disputed coral reefs just kilometers away from the most important military outpost in the Philippines in the South China Sea, raising the risk of a new confrontation between the competitors.

The Chinese Coast Guard “carried out marine control and the exercise of sovereign state” on Sandy Kay this month, the military channel of the state broadcaster CCTV mentioned Saturday morning. She said that the Coast Guard officers canceled the Chinese flag to declare sovereignty over the coral reefs in the Spratley Islands, which shows a picture of this act.

This step is the first time in many years, and Beijing, which claims the South China Sea in its entirety, planted its official knowledge of the feature of other lands not previously occupied.

It comes as the Philippines and its ally, the United States Palkatan procedureThe largest annual military exercise, which will include the coastal defense and the seizure of the island. They will be detained next week on Filipino lands closest to Sprlys.

Although a sand bank measures more than 200 square meters, Sandy Kai has a strategic value for China because international law gives it a regional sea. A 12 -mile radius on the island is interfered with Theo Island, which is the South China Sea Marian, which is used by the Philippines to track Chinese moves in the region.

Beijing’s official announcement of sovereignty on Sandy Kai will raise fears that Beijing will intend to build coral reefs and un occupied banks.

Over the past two years, Manila has increased the Coast Guard patrols and sent scientific teams to investigate Reports From the Chinese reclamation activity in Sandy Kai and three other coral reefs south.

Some naval experts argue that the new Chinese reclamation is unlikely because the artificial islands built and militarized by Beijing over the past decade gave their presence, military arrival and coast guard.

There is no sign of a permanent Chinese occupation of Sandy Cay or building on it. A marine security official in the Philippines said on Saturday that the Chinese Coast Guard had left after the flag was separated.

He added that the official announcement of sovereignty indicated that China could “increase its harassment against us in Pag-ESA”, using the Filipino name of Thaitu.

The Philippine Coast Guard has been running a control base on Thaitu since late 2023, but Manila is now upgrading a runway and another infrastructure on the island. The building is part of the efforts made to make the coral reefs in the South China Sea more housing and decline against aggressive Chinese activity.

Chinese local law gives the Coast Guard a Delegate for riding and inspection Foreign ships “intrusion” in the waters demanded by Beijing and holding their crews. This raises the risk of clashes with the Philippine army and the Coast Guard in Theo, in the water that China is now treating as its regional sea.

The military assets in China are much stronger than the THITU. Its facilities on the nearby SUBI REF include surface missiles into a pilot, pens, runway, radar, a department for deep water. But because it is classified only as the high tide, SUBI lacks a regional sea under international law.