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Senator calls for probe on China's alleged seizure of Sandy Cay

Philippine News Agency

By Wilnard Bacelonia
April 30, 2025, 9:23 pm

MANILA -- Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino on Wednesday called for an inquiry into the alleged illegal occupation by Chinese coast guard personnel into Sandy Cay, a sandbar within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone and just off Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea.

He said the alleged incursion into the country's territorial waters constitutes a grave threat to national sovereignty.

"The illegal seizure of Sandy Cay is an outrageous assault on Philippine sovereignty," he said through proposed Resolution No. 1347.

"We filed this resolution to galvanize a whole-of-government response and make it clear to the international community that we will not stand down in the face of unlawful acts," he added.

Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada echoed the urgency to verify the situation and defend Philippine maritime rights, saying the resolution would ensure coordinated efforts among government agencies to confirm the facts and take decisive diplomatic and legal action.

"If proven true, this would not only be an act of aggression, but also a deliberate distortion of facts intended to confuse and divide. The Senate must assert its oversight powers to protect our territorial integrity," he said.

The resolution also seeks to compel the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of National Defense, and the National Security Council to report on current measures being undertaken to address the situation and deter future violations.

Sandy Cay lies approximately two nautical miles from Pag-asa Island and has long been considered part of Philippine territory under international law. (PNA)