The Philippine Coast Guard has accused China’s forces of harassing its fisheries vessels conducting a scientific survey near Sandy Cay, a disputed area in the South China Sea. The incident, which occurred on Friday, involved Chinese coast guard ships and a navy helicopter, forcing the Philippine vessels to abort their mission.
According to the Philippine Coast Guard, the Chinese coast guard ships approached two larger Philippine vessels, prompting evasive maneuvers to avoid a collision. A Chinese military helicopter reportedly flew low over two smaller boats deployed for the survey, further escalating the situation.
Videos released by the Philippine Coast Guard show a Chinese coast guard ship sailing dangerously close to a Philippine vessel and a Chinese helicopter hovering low over rough waters near a vessel flying the Philippine flag.
The incident took place near Sandy Cay, three uninhabited sandbars located between a Chinese artificial island and a Philippines-occupied area in the Spratly archipelago. This area is part of the South China Sea, a region contested by multiple nations, including the Philippines, Vietnam, and Malaysia.
China, which claims most of the South China Sea through its controversial “10-dash line” map, has yet to respond to the allegations. The map lacks exact coordinates but has been a cornerstone of China’s territorial claims.
The flare-up highlights ongoing tensions in one of the world’s busiest trade and security corridors. It also tests U.S. foreign policy under President Donald Trump, whose administration has pledged to act as a counterweight to China in the Indo-Pacific.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently discussed China’s “dangerous and destabilizing actions in the South China Sea” with Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo. Rubio reiterated the U.S.’s “ironclad commitment” to the Philippines under the Mutual Defense Treaty, emphasizing that Chinese behavior undermines regional peace and violates international law.
The U.S. has consistently warned that it is obligated to defend the Philippines, its oldest treaty ally in Asia, should Filipino forces come under attack, including in the South China Sea. China, however, has dismissed U.S. involvement, calling the disputes a purely regional matter.
This latest incident underscores the persistent friction in the South China Sea, with geopolitical stakes continuing to shape the region’s future.
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