The Chinese Coast Guard has seized a tiny sand bank in the South China Sea, state media reported in the escalation of a regional dispute with the Philippines.
State TV operator CCTV has released images of four officers wearing all blacks and holding the Chinese flag, standing on the disputed reef of Sandy Kay on the Islands Spratly.
The channel said China “applied maritime control and exercised Rifa's sovereign jurisdiction” earlier in April.
The Philippine Government is not officially responsible. Both China and the Philippines have set their claims on different islands and zones. Their dispute is escalating, with frequent confrontations Including collision vessels and scandals.
Sandy Kay is close to the Philippine military advance of Titu Island, which Manila uses to track Chinese movements in the area.
There is no indication that China is constantly occupying an island of 200 square meters, and the coast security has left.
The White House said reports on China that take the reef are “deeply concerned if they are true.”
In comments reported by Financial Times, James Hewitt, a spokesman for the US National Security Council, warned that “actions like these threaten regional stability and violate international law”, adding that the White House “consults closely with our own partners.”
The Chinese move comes as we and the Philippine forces conduct their annual training for war scenarios – called Balikatan exercises. China criticizes training as provocative.
About 17,000 people participate in the coming days. The missiles from the integrated US military defense system were fired off the coast of northern Philippines on Sunday, the second live fire test and its first deployment in the Philippines. The Strumans are also set up to have the American Missile Rocket Missile System.
The Philippine military says training is a rehearsal for national defense, but insists that they are not aimed at any particular country.
“This type of training is absolutely invaluable to us,” said the third officer from the marine coast, John Lehan.
Exercise has helped to alleviate fears among some allies in the United States that Donald Trump can increase the many years of military support it provides in the region.
On a visit to Manila last month, US Secretary of Defense Pete Heget said Washington “doubled” his union with the country and was determined to “restore” against China.
In the South China Sea there are disputes over the territory in the South China Sea, but tensions have increased in recent years.
China claims the largest part of the territory in an area, demarized by the so-called “Nine-PI line”. The line consists of nine dashes, which extend hundreds of miles south and east of its most sowing province of Hainan. Beijing supported his extended claims with the construction of islands and naval patrols.
Competitive claimants such as Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei have set claims on islands and various areas in the sea.