China has warned the United States against using the Philippines to create tension in the South China Sea following an incident near Sandy Cay, where the China Coast Guard reportedly used water cannons and sideswiped a Philippine research vessel.
“We advise the U.S. side not to use the Philippines to stir up trouble in the South China Sea, and not to undermine peace and stability in the region,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning in a press conference on Friday.
The warning came after US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson posted on X condemning China’s actions. “The China Coast Guard’s aggressive actions against a lawful [Philippine] civilian mission near Sandy Cay recklessly endangered lives and threaten regional stability. We stand with our [Filipino] allies in support of international law and a Free and Open Indo-Pacific,” she wrote.
The Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) confirmed that their vessels—BRP Datu Sanday and BRP Datu Pagbuaya—were harassed by Chinese vessels while on a scientific mission near Pag-asa Cay 2. Despite the incident, the scientific team successfully collected sand samples from Pag-asa Cays 1, 2, and 3.
BFAR emphasized the incident occurred within the Philippines’ territorial waters, part of the Kalayaan Island Group in the West Philippine Sea. However, China insists the area, which it calls Tiexian Jiao, belongs to its Nansha Qundao (Spratly Islands). The China Coast Guard said it took “control measures” and acknowledged a collision took place.
Mao claimed the Philippines was “illegally sending people” to the area and warned of further consequences. “The Philippines needs to immediately stop its infringement activities and provocations. Otherwise, China will make a resolute response,” she said.
In response, the National Maritime Council condemned China’s actions and reiterated Philippine sovereignty over Pag-asa Island and its cays. “These deliberate acts of interference and intimidation seriously violate the sovereignty of the Philippines and constitute a grave violation of international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and the relevant domestic laws,” the NMC said.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has yet to release a statement. The US Embassy declined to comment further and referred inquiries to the State Department.
Tensions in the South China Sea remain high, as Beijing continues to claim almost the entire area, overlapping with territories of the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia. The Philippines refers to parts of the disputed waters within its territory as the West Philippine Sea. A 2016 Hague ruling rejected China’s sweeping claims, a decision China refuses to recognize.