Sandy Cay, also known as Pag-asa Cay 2, and the nearby Pag-asa Island are part of the Kalayaan Group of Islands (KIG) and have never been within China’s territory, not even in their wildest dreams.
No amount of absurd and baseless claims can justify the China Coast Guard’s aggressive actions, which have recklessly endangered the lives of our maritime personnel and marine scientists, threatening regional stability.
Malinaw ang paulit-ulit nilang paglapastangan sa ating soberanya, pananakot, panggigipit at hindi pagsunod sa United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), 2002 Declaration of the Conduct of Parties (DOC) sa South China Sea at pagsuway sa 2016 Arbitral Award na nagsasabi na walang basehan ang pag-angkin nila sa ating teritoryo.
I firmly stand with the Department of Foreign Affairs in declaring that China has absolutely no right to object to or interfere with our lawful maritime operations and scientific research in Sandy Cay and its surrounding areas. We will not be swayed in our commitment to our activities in these regions.