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Sandy Cay part of PH: Romualdez tells China to stop cheap stunts

Philippine News Agency

By Filane Mikee Cervantes
April 28, 2025, 4:00 pm

MANILA -- Speaker Martin Romualdez on Monday condemned China's latest activities around Sandy Cay, asserting the area is part of Philippine territory and no Chinese provocation will change that.

Romualdez made the statement after Chinese personnel reportedly raised a flag and conducted inspection activities on Sandy Cay, a sandbar located near Pag-asa Island and within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.

Romualdez criticized the actions as "desperate and cheap stunts" designed to mislead and bolster illegitimate claims.

"I strongly denounce the latest actions of the China Coast Guard in and around Sandy Cay, an area well within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and unquestionably part of Philippine sovereignty," Romualdez said in a statement.

He cited the 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated China's sweeping claims across the South China Sea, including Sandy Cay.

"Let me be clear: Sandy Cay, located just four nautical miles from our own Pag-asa Island, is Philippine territory," Romualdez said. "We have continuously and effectively exercised jurisdiction over it."

Romualdez, meanwhile, highlighted the swift action of Philippine authorities in affirming the country's presence in the area.

The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) conducted an Inter-Agency Maritime Operation on April 27, covering Pag-asa Cay 1, Cay 2, and Cay 3.

The operation involved the Philippine Navy, Philippine Coast Guard, and Philippine National Police-Maritime Group.

"This operation... demonstrates the Philippines' lawful, routine, and rightful exercise of sovereignty over our waters and features," Romualdez said, as he called for a halt to China's aggressive maneuvers.

"I call on China: Cease these reckless provocations. Respect international law. Stop these cheap stunts," he said.

He vowed that the House of Representatives would fully support the efforts of the Executive branch and security forces to defend Philippine territory.

For his part, House Special Committee on Bases Conversion chairperson Jay Khonghun called China's recent illegal presence at Sandy Cay a "brazen affront" to Philippine sovereignty.

"This latest move by China is a clear and deliberate violation of our sovereign rights," Khonghun said.

Khonghun said that while the Philippines has always sought a "path of peace," grounded in the rule of law and mutual respect, it must never be mistaken for weakness.

"We have every right and every duty to defend what is ours," Khonghun said, as he welcomed recent joint air defense drills between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the US military, describing them as a "timely and necessary assertion of readiness and resolve."(PNA)