China took an island in the South China Sea? Philippines deny

On Monday, the Philippine authorities denied that China took control of the disputed island of Sandy Cay (in Chinese names Rafa Tiexian) in the South China Sea. Photos of representatives of the Coast Guard, the Navy and the Maritime Police with the country's flag on the island were shown.

The Chinese CCTV television announced on Saturday that the Coast Guard of the PRC landed on the Tiexian reef in mid -April and “established maritime control there”.

“The claim of the Chinese coasting guard that (island) was occupied is not true in any way,” commented reports of the Filipino Security Council Jonathan Malaya, adding that the CCTV report was an “irresponsible” attack in the form of intimidation and harassment. “

Also the Filipino coastal guard published photos confirming the presence of six officers of the inter -wagency team with the Philippine Flag on the island on Sunday. “The operation reflects the unwavering devotion and involvement of the Philippines in defense of the sovereignty of the country,” said.

Beijing condemned Manila's actions as “illegal”, claiming that China has “indisputable sovereignty” over the islands of Spratly, including the Tiexian reef.

The island of Sandy Cay, part of the SPRATLY archipelago, is a few kilometers from the island of Thitu, the largest island controlled by the Philippines in the archipelago, and over 1000 km from the coast of China. In 2016, a permanent arbitration tribunal in Hague after the complaint of the Philippines ruled that China's actions around the SPRATLY archipelago, where Beijing appointed a 200 nautical economic zone, are illegal. The Chinese authorities ignored this verdict.

For years, the South China Sea region has been considered one of the most inflammatory points of Southeast Asia. Through this basin, a trade trade with a value of over $ 3 trillion a year, it is also potentially rich in oil and gas deposits.

The tension between the PRC and the Philippines intensifies, and the dispute about Sandy Cay is the latest example of the growing competition for control over the South China Sea. It comes to it in the context of annual maneuvers started on April 21 with the participation of the US and the Philippines under the code name Balikatan (side by side), which will last until May 9.

Krzysztof Pawliszak (PAP)

KPR/ AP/