Solons call alleged Chinese Sandy Cay foray `desperate and cheap stunt’

In this photo provided by the National Task Force West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS), a Chinese Coast Guard ship patrols the area as Philippine inter-agency members visit Sandy Cay 2 at the South China Sea on Sunday April 27, 2025. (National Task Force West Philippine Sea via AP)

MANILA, Philippines — China’s illegal presence at Sandy Cay and its claim of seizing the area is a “brazen affront” to Philippine sovereignty and international law and nothing more than “desperate and cheap stunts,” according to two lawmakers.

House Speaker Martin Romualdez and Special Committee on Bases Conversion chair and Zambales Rep. Jay Khonghun issued separate statements on Monday, condemning China’s recent claim.

“I strongly denounce the latest actions of the China Coast Guard in and around Sandy Cay, an area well within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and unquestionably part of Philippine territory,” Romauldez said.

“The deployment of Chinese personnel to Sandy Cay, their unfurling of a Chinese flag, and their so-called ‘inspection’ activities are nothing more than desperate and cheap stunts—an orchestrated spectacle meant to mislead and bolster their illegitimate claims,” he added.

The House leader likewise reiterated that Sandy Cay is within the Philippine territory.

`Sweeping, baseless claims’

“We have continuously and effectively exercised jurisdiction over it. The 2016 Arbitral Award has already invalidated China’s sweeping and baseless claims across the South China Sea, including Sandy Cay,” he stressed.

“I call on China: Cease these reckless provocations. Respect international law. Stop these cheap stunts. The Philippines stands firm, ready, and united in defending what is ours—through peaceful, principled, and lawful means.

Khonghun echoed Romualdez’s statement, saying that “no amount of aggressive posturing or illegal occupation can erase the fact” that Sandy Cay belongs to the Philippines.

“This latest move by China is a clear and deliberate violation of our sovereign rights,” Khonghun, a House Assistant Majority Leader, said.

“We must call a spade a spade. China’s actions are illegal, provocative and undermine regional peace and stability,” Khonghun expressed.

`Vigilance over complacency’

In line with this, Khonghun called on the public to unite “in defense of national dignity, calling for patriotism over apathy, and vigilance over complacency.”

“In defending our territory, we are not merely protecting sand and sea. We are safeguarding our history, our identity, and the generations of Filipinos yet to come,” he said.

Meanwhile, former Deputy Minority Leader and Bayan Muna Partylist Congressman Carlos Isagani Zarate called China’s recent actions “a blatant violation of Philippine sovereignty and a gross affront to international law.”

He also said the country could not ignore China’s “expansionist agenda” and the government needed to issue a firm and peaceful response.

“China’s continued encroachment and militarization of our waters necessitate a firm and decisive response. While we advocate for a peaceful resolution, we cannot ignore the reality of China’s expansionist agenda. Their actions only contribute, unfortunately, to an unnecessary regional arms race that we have long sought to avoid,” Zarate said.

Moreover, he called on the international community and the United Nations “to uphold international law and work collectively to establish the South China Sea as a Zone of Peace.”