China Seizes Control of Disputed Reef Near Philippines

The Chinese Coast Guard has taken control of Sand Cay, a disputed coral reef in the Spratly Islands located approximately 240 miles (386 kilometers) off the coast of the Philippines, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV’s military channel.

In a statement issued Saturday, China’s military said it had “implemented maritime control and exercised sovereign jurisdiction” over Sand Cay "earlier this month," though no specific date was provided. CCTV released footage showing Chinese Coast Guard sailors unfurling the Chinese flag on the island.

Sand Cay, like many islands and atolls in the South China Sea, is claimed by multiple parties, including China, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Taiwan. Vietnam has administered Sand Cay since 1974, initially under South Vietnam and later by the unified Socialist Republic of Vietnam after 1976. Despite maintaining control for five decades, Vietnam never built any military infrastructure on the island.

Although the reef itself measures only about 200 square meters, it holds significant strategic value. Sand Cay is situated roughly 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Thitu Island, a Philippine-controlled reef used to monitor Chinese military activity in the region.

While there are currently no indications of a permanent Chinese military presence on Sand Cay, China's assertion of sovereignty could allow it to challenge Filipino naval and coast guard operations nearby. Under international law, a country's territorial waters extend 12 nautical miles from its sovereign territory, potentially giving Beijing new leverage in the area.

The move comes amid heightened tensions following massive U.S.-Philippines joint military exercises that simulated a "full-scale battle scenario," drawing strong condemnation from Beijing.

Earlier this year, the United States deployed several missile systems to the Philippines, including Typhon missile systems capable of striking targets across mainland China. Additionally, the U.S. deployed its Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) anti-ship missile system to the strategic Luzon Strait between the Philippines and Taiwan—the closest U.S. land-based cruise missile deployment to China in history.