Vietnam is protesting claims made by the Philippines and China over Sandy Cay, a disputed reef in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) that Hanoi is also claiming as part of its territory.
According to Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pham Thu Hang, Vietnam has sent protest notes to both countries, demanding respect for its sovereignty over the Spratly Islands, which include Sandy Cay.
Hanoi sought to assert its claim over the ocean feature even as it called on all contending parties to avoid actions that could further escalate tensions.
Last week, the Philippine Navy (PN) refuted China’s claim that it has occupied Sandy Cay, which it calls Tiexian Reef.
Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, the Navy spokesperson for the WPS, said the claim is meant to divert the attention of the public amid allegations of Chinese spies and an alleged troll farm hired by the Chinese Embassy in Manila in 2023.
“We checked together with the Coast Guard, the Navy, the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines), the BFAR (Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources), and other agencies. Nothing was found there, and we were able to debunk what they [the Chinese] were claiming,” he said in an interview.
Trinidad’s remark came after China claimed that it seized control of Sandy Cay, which is part of the Spratly Islands.
However, the naval officer confirmed that four Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessels and 19 maritime militia boats were monitored near Sandy Cay.
“Some CCG and maritime militia vessels were spotted, but they have always been there because Sandy Cay is close to Pag-asa Island,” he added.
Trinidad also assured the public that Philippine authorities are continuously monitoring Sandy Cay.
It can be recalled that the AFP has called for vigilance against pro-China narratives being actively promoted to the Philippine public through various channels, including online propaganda, think tanks, and even by some politicians and entrepreneurs.
Meanwhile, former Senator Nikki Coseteng denounced what she called a wave of “Sinophobia” sweeping across the Philippines in the wake of overlapping territorial claims that have led to near-clashes between Philippine and Chinese maritime forces.
“I have this justified apprehension over the safety of our friends and relatives in the Chinese community, because this creeping paranoia may trigger hostile and unfriendly reactions from lawless sectors who might take advantage of the tense situation. This kind of talk will further aggravate hatred against them,” she raised.
“There’s no substitute for peace. Anyone who says otherwise is like a mad dog frothing in the mouth,” the former lawmaker noted.
Coseteng said she cherishes her Chinese heritage, as her grandfather, Eduardo Coseteng, was formerly mayor of Xiamen City in China before co-founding Equitable Banking Corp. of the Philippines. Rio N. Araja
