April 28, 2025
MANILA – The Inter-Agency Maritime Operation (IAMO) conducted by the Philippine authorities at Pag-asa Cay 1, Cay 2, and Cay 3 and their surrounding waters negates China’s claim that it has seized control of Sandy Cay (Tiexian Reef), an official of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Monday.
Earlier, the National Task Force West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) explained that IAMO reinforces the Philippine authorities’ routine and lawful exercise of maritime domain awareness and jurisdiction over the WPS.
“Yung nilabas na statement ng NTF-WPS kahapon ay pagpapatunay na ang statement ng China that they already occupied Pagasa cays is not actually factual,” PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela said in an interview over Radyo 630.
(The statement of NTF-WPS yesterday proves that China’s statement that it already occupied the Pagasa cays is not actually factual.)
“The Philippine Navy, Philippine Coast Guard, and Philippine National Police-Maritime Group umalis kahapon ng madaling araw at pumunta sa Pag-asa Cay 1, Cay 2, and Cay 3 na may daladalang bandila ng Pilipinas is a clear evidence na ang gantong naratibo ng China is only intended to counter our factual narrative na nakakapunta naman talaga tayo sa cays na ito,” he added.
(The Philippine Navy, Philippine Coast Guard, and Philippine National Police-Maritime Group went to Pag-asa Cay 1, Cay 2, and Cay 3 early Sunday morning with the Philippine flag. This act is clear evidence that the narrative of China is only intended to counter our factual narrative that we can visit these cays.)
Tarriela further said that the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) is not “permanently occupying” Sandy Cay.
READ: NTF-WPS reports completing maritime operation at Pag-asa Cay
For his part, National Security Council Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya reminded China of its commitment to the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.
“We remind them of their commitment in the 2002 declaration on the conduct, wherein it was agreed by those nations that signed the declaration on the conduct that there will be no occupation moving forward of unoccupied features,” Malaya said in a press conference on Monday.
“We urge the People’s Republic of China and the Chinese Coast Guard to maintain the status quo in the West Philippine Sea, consistent again with the 2002 declaration on the conduct, which they themselves are adhered to, which they themselves continue to refer to in each and every statement issued by the Chinese Foreign Ministry,” he added.
Malaya likewise asked China to stop all provocative activities in the West Philippine Sea.
“It is not to the benefit of any nation if these things are happening, nor is it to the benefit of any nation if such irresponsible announcements and statements are released to the public and to the world,” he stressed.
On Sunday, Beijing’s state media reported that CCG had already implemented “maritime control” over the Tiexian Reef— a tiny sandbank, part of the Spratly Islands.
The report said CCG landed on Sandy Cay to “exercise sovereignty and jurisdiction” over the reef, carry out an “inspection” and “collect video evidence regarding the illegal activities of the Philippine side.”
