PH reaffirms maritime rights over Sandy Cay

Malacañang reaffirmed President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr.'s commitment to defending Philippine maritime rights in the West Philippine Sea following reports of Chinese activity near Sandy Cay.

At a press briefing on Monday, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro stated that security officials have already confirmed China's claim of occupying Sandy Cay is untrue and emphasized the President’s dedication to asserting the country's rights in the region.

A routine Inter-Agency Maritime Operation (IAMO) was successfully conducted on April 27 by the Philippine Navy, Coast Guard, and National Police-Maritime Group during which Philippine authorities observed around four Chinese Coast Guard vessels and 19 maritime militia near Sandy Cay but completed their patrol without incident.

National Security Council Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya confirmed that Sandy Cay has not been seized by China despite state media claims, while the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) emphasized the Philippines' commitment to upholding sovereignty and safeguarding maritime rights in accordance with international law.

Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, suggested that China's claim was meant to divert public attention amid allegations of Chinese spies and a troll farm hired by the Chinese Embassy in Manila in 2023.