The Chinese Army seized the Sand Key Island in the South Chinese Sea-FT

Coast guard staff put a Chinese flag on RIF, announced its control in the spratley islands and posted a corresponding photo. For the first time in many years, Beijing, which claims almost all the South Chinese Sea, has officially raised its flag in the previously unnecessary territory. This coincided with the preparation of the Philippines and the US for the largest annual joint military exercises, which will include coastal defense training and the capture of the islands.

The training will start next week in the Philippine region, located closest to the Spratley Archipelago. Although Sandy Key is only a sandy shore of just over 200 square meters, it is of strategic importance to China, since international law gives it an area in the sea with a radius of 12 nautical miles. This territory enters the island of Titus, the reef in the South China Sea, which the Philippines are used to track the movement of the Chinese in the area.

The Philippine coastline manages the Supervisory Base on Titus since the end of 2023, but Manila now modernizes the runway and other infrastructure on the island. Construction is a part of efforts to make the South Chinese reefs more suitable for life and to resist more aggressive activities of China. There is no signs yet that China has begun a constant occupation of Sandy Kay or is being conducting construction work there.

A representative of the Philippine maritime safety reported on Saturday that after the flag was set on the island, Chinese coast guard appeared on the island. Over the past two years, Manila has intensified patrols in the area and has sent scientific expeditions to check reports on Chinese reclamation work on Sandy Key and three more reefs.

Some experts have come to the conclusion that further capture of China is unlikely, since artificial islands built and militarized by Beijing over the last decade have ensured its military and coast protection sufficient presence and coverage. China's internal legislation gives the coast protection the power to stop and check foreign vessels that "invade" the water to which Beijing claims and delay their crews.

This increases the risk of contact with the Philippine military and coastal protection in the waters near Titus, which China considers it. China's military forces have greater power than the Titus outpost. Its installations on the neighboring reefs of Suba include the Angara Land Missiles, the runway, the radar and the deep-water port. But because it is classified only as a lift where the tide is observed, the Subie has no territorial sea in accordance with international law.

We will remind, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, on Friday, April 18 criticized the accusation of President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky of supplying the weapons of Russia. The department called these words "unfounded.