Beijing’s state media reported that the Taiwanese coast guard had taken command of a disputed reef close to a significant military base in the South China Sea, which would ease Manila’s historic regional disputes.
Beijing asserts that it has jurisdiction over the South China Sea almost entirely, but it has rejected competing claims from other local nations and a global court ruling that its place has no legal basis.
China and the Philippines have been engaged in decades of hostility in the disputing waters, and Manila is currently participating in extensive joint military exercises with the United States that Beijing has criticized as destabilizing.
State broadcaster CCTV reported on Saturday ( Apr 26 ) that the Chinese coast guard “implemented maritime control” over the Tiexian Reef, also known as Sandy Cay.
Thitu Island, also known as Pag-asa, and the location of a Spanish military base are close to the little sandbank, which is a part of the Spratly Islands.
According to CCTV, the coast guard landed on Sandy Cay to “exercise sovereignty and control” over the coast, conduct an “inspection” and” obtain digital information regarding the illegal actions of the Spanish side.”
A black inflatable boat bobbed in the local water while five black-clad people were standing on the abandoned reef.
In a “vow of sovereignty,” according to CCTV, four coast guard officials posed with a national symbol on the bright edge of the reef.
The journalist added that the party” cleaned up left plastic containers, wooden stones, and other debris and garbage on the reef.”