Chinese coast guard replaces Philippine flag on Sandy Cay
Updated
Updated · The Times · May 7
Chinese coast guard replaces Philippine flag on Sandy Cay
13 articles · Updated · The Times · May 7
The move came a day after Philippine congresswoman Dadah Kiram Ismula planted Manila's flag on the uninhabited atoll near Thitu in the disputed Spratly Islands.
The incident highlights escalating confrontations in the South China Sea, where Chinese patrols have disrupted Filipino fishing and repeatedly faced Philippine vessels, sometimes violently.
Manila is strengthening Thitu with a new coast guard command centre, more troops and US-backed exercises, while about 500 civilians now live on the island under growing pressure.
With U.S. naval power stretched thin, what prevents China from seizing full control of the South China Sea?
Can civilian settlement on a remote island truly secure a nation's claim against a superpower's military might?
The 2026 Sandy Cay Flag Dispute: China’s Salami-Slicing Strategy and Philippine Resistance
Overview
In May 2026, the Philippine civilian group Atin Ito planted their flag on Sandy Cay, prompting a swift Chinese response with their own flag planting and extensive state media coverage to assert sovereignty. This incident highlighted China's ongoing 'salami-slicing' strategy, involving gradual territorial advances and gray-zone tactics like coast guard harassment to increase pressure on the Philippines. The heightened activity around Sandy Cay raised the risk of military escalation, potentially drawing in the United States under its defense treaty with the Philippines. Despite international legal rulings rejecting China's claims, enforcement remains weak, allowing China to continue its incremental expansion, while the Philippines strengthens its military capabilities with U.S. support to counter these challenges.