China grasps controversial reef in the South -Chita Sea

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China confiscated a controversial reef a few kilometers from the most important military outpost of the Philippines in the South China Sea, which increased the risk of a new confrontation between two rival applicants.

Chinese Coast Guard “implemented maritime control and implemented sovereign jurisdiction” over Sandy Cay this month, a state television channel Reports CCTV Saturday. It states that the Coast Guard officers launched the Chinese flag to announce the sovereignty over the reef in the spatula, showing a photo of this act.

This step for the first time in many years when Beijing claims that the South China Sea is practically in full, officially planted its flag on another unoccupied ground function.

It comes the way the Philippines and its allies – USA baller. They will be held next week in the Philippine territory closest to Spratl.

Despite the fact that only a sandy bank is just over 200 square meters, Sandy -Kay is strategic for China, as international law gives it a territorial sea. The 12th radius is crossed with the island of Thitu, the South China Sea, which the Philippines are used to track Chinese steps in the area.

The official declaration of sovereignty in Beijing on Sandy Kay is the fears that Beijing intends to create unoccupied reefs and banks.

Over the past two years, Manila has increased coast guard patrols and has sent scientific teams to investigate reports Chinese reclamation activity in Sandy -kau and three other reefs further south.

Some naval experts claim that the new Chinese reclamation is unlikely because the artificial islands built and militarized by Beijing over the last decade have given their military and coast guard sufficient presence and achievement.

There is still no signs of constant Chinese occupation of sandy kay or construction. The Philippine Sales official said on Saturday that the Chinese coast had left after the flag.

But the official declaration of sovereignty has shown that China could “increase their pursuit against us in PAG-AAA,” he added using the Philippine name for Thitu.

The Philippine Coast has ruled the Thitu monitoring base since the end of 2023, but Manila is now upgrading the runway and other infrastructure on the island. The building is part of the effort to make its riffs the South China Sea more residential and push off more and more aggressive Chinese activity.

Lail Morris, a former Pentagon expert, who is now at the Asia Politics Institute, said Sandy Kay has become a source of tension between China and the Philippines for many years.

“China has created almost a permanent presence around Sandy -ka for many years, mostly using its maritime police courts to surround nearby waters,” Morris said. “They have intensified their presence since the Philippines began to strengthen the island of Pagas (Thitu) and its runway.”

Morris said Chinese actions do not create a test for the United States, saying it was rather a “tactical step” aimed at the Philippines.

“It has more pressure on the Philippines to respond somehow,” Morris added. “If China, if -physically took this function, the Philippines would most likely feel forced to answer. What kind of answer is unclear.”

The Pentagon sent requests to the White House, which does not comment.

The Chinese step comes because Washington and Beijing were killed in the deepening of the trade war. US allies are also closely monitoring how Trump’s administration will deal with Chinese actions in the South -Chinese Sea.

“The People’s Republic has increased pressure on the Philippine outposts over the years.

China’s law provides it with the Coast Guard A A mandate for a post and check Foreign courts, which “invaded” the water stated in Beijing and delay their crews. This increases the risk of collisions with the Filipino military and coast guard in Thitu, in Watses China is now viewed as its territorial sea.

China’s military assets are much stronger than the Titu outpost. Its installations on the adjacent Subi Reef include rockets superficial, hangars, runway, radars and port of the shelter in deep-water water. But since it is classified only as an elevation of the tide, the judgment lacks the territorial sea under international legislation.