The National Security Council (NSC) on Monday called on Beijing to honor its commitments outlined in the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.

Philippine government officials from the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) held a press conference in Manila after a China-run media outlet reported that the China Coast Guard had established “maritime control” over Tiexian Reef — a small sandbank in the Spratly Islands — near Pag-asa Island.

“We remind them of their commitment in the 2002 declaration on the conduct, wherein it was agreed by those nations that signed the declaration on the conduct that there will be no occupation moving forward of unoccupied features,” NSC Assistant Director General Jonathan said in the briefing. 

Malaya also urged the People’s Republic of China and the Chinese Coast Guard “to maintain the status quo in the West Philippine Sea, consistent again with the 2002 declaration on the conduct.”

He pointed out that the Chinese government repeatedly references the DOC in every statement issued by the Chinese Foreign Ministry. 

Malaya also urged China to cease all provocative actions in the WPS.

“It is not to the benefit of any nation if these things are happening, nor is it to the benefit of any nation if such irresponsible announcements and statements are released to the public and to the world,” he stressed.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) also debunked the CCG claims that it has landed on Sandy Cay to “exercise sovereignty and jurisdiction” over the reef, carry out an “inspection” and “collect video evidence regarding the illegal activities of the Philippine side.”

Citing a recent inter-agency operation in Sandy Cay, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela said the Filipino team observed the illegal presence of China Coast Guard vessel 5102 about 1,000 yards east of Cay-2, along with seven Chinese Maritime Militia vessels near Cay-2 and Cay-3.

He noted that the Inter-Agency Maritime Operation (IAMO) carried out by Philippine authorities at Pag-asa Cay 1, Cay 2, Cay 3, and nearby waters refutes China’s claim of having seized control of Sandy Cay (Tiexian Reef).

“The statement released by the NTF-WPS yesterday proves that China’s claim of having already occupied the Pag-asa Cays is not actually factual,” Tarriela stressed. 

Carrying the national flag, members of the Philippine Navy, Philippine Coast Guard, and the Philippine National Police-Maritime Group went to Pag-asa Cay 1, Cay 2 and Cay 3 early Sunday morning.

“This act is clear evidence that the narrative of China is only intended to counter our factual narrative that we can visit these cays,” Tarriela said.

He likewise underscored that the CCG is not “permanently occupying” Sandy Cay.

Further, Navy spokesperson for WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad argued that the Chinese government is employing a geopolitical strategy to distract from recent issues, such as the retrieval of drones with Chinese marking, the disclosure of checks issued by the Chinese Embassy to a Filipino company to operate a troll farm, and other matters, including the alleged espionage acitivities near the Philippine military camps. 

“Now, on the other side, they are being criticized. So, they have to come up with an issue to divert attention. That’s why they brought up the claim about Sandy Cay, which they reportedly took and placed a flag on,” he said in Filipino in a separate radio interview. 

Trinidad emphasized that the military’s Western Command remains “on top of the situation” despite China’s ongoing spread of “malign information” to reinforce its sweeping claims over nearly the entire South China Sea.