The National Maritime Council (NMC) on Saturday said that China’s claim that it has seized Sandy Cay is a clear example of disinformation that aims to mislead the international community about its illegal activities in the West Philippine Sea.
“Through its State-controlled media, China uses disinformation to mislead its own people and the international community about the continuing illegality of its activities in the West Philippine Sea,” NMC said in a statement.
“The alleged seizure of Pag-asa Cay 2 (Sandy Cay), an integral part of the Philippine national territory in the West Philippine Sea, was a clear example of the disinformation activities of the Chinese Government, where it made it appear that China has effective control of the cay by displaying its flag and conducting waste collection,” it continued.
The NMC also blamed China for the degradation of the environment around Pag-asa Island and its cays, which it said was caused by the “persistent illegal swarming of Chinese vessels in its surroundings.”
This includes the impact of China’s massive artificial island-building in Zamora Reef (Subi Reef), a low-tide elevation forming part of the territorial sea of Pag-asa Island and its Cays.
“The Philippines urges China to comply with its obligations under international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award, as well as properly implement the 2002 Declaration of the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea,” the NMC said.
It added that the Philippine government will constantly seek peaceful means in handling disputes and constructive approaches to managing differences, while pursuing its lawful and routine activities in the West Philippine Sea, consistent with its maritime entitlements under international law.
The Philippine Navy earlier in the week denied China’s claim that it has occupied Sandy Cay, which it calls Tiexian Reef, in the South China Sea.
Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, the Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, said the claim is meant to divert the attention of the public amid allegations of Chinese spies and an alleged troll farm hired by the Chinese Embassy in Manila in 2023.
Philippine authorities have also recently raised the country’s flag on Sandy Cay to debunk China’s claims that it had seized the area.
Sandy Cay is located approximately two nautical miles away from Pag-asa Island. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
