Claims over reef escalates China – Philippines tensions

China has claimed an uninhabited reef in the South China Sea that marks escalating tensions with the Philippines.

The uninhabited reef – known as Sandy Cay is categorized as a rock and it would allow China to claim a 12 nautical mile of territorial sea which overlaps with a key Philippine military post, Thitu Island.

The move by Beijing was made just days before Philippines and the US conduct joint military drills.

In 2016, the Philippines and obtained an ex-parte ruling from The Hague based on the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) that invalidated China’s claim.

China is claiming territories in the South China Sea based on its nine dash line.

China has long had territorial dispute claim over the South China Sea against a number of South East Asian nations.

Vietnam, Cambodia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei are also claiming parts of the South China Sea.

Malaysia’s claim is over the Spratly Islands based on its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.