NATIONAL
Advocates Philippines
Speaker Romualdez To China: 'Stop The Stunts - Sandy Cay Is Ours!'
Photo credit: Congress PH
Speaker of the House Martin Romualdez isn’t holding back. After the latest moves by the China Coast Guard near Sandy Cay, he had a clear and firm message: “Sandy Cay is Philippine territory—stop these cheap stunts.”
Romualdez slammed China’s recent actions, which included deploying personnel, unfurling a Chinese flag, and conducting so-called “inspection” activities in the area. He called it exactly what it is—a desperate show to mislead the world and bolster their baseless claims.
“Let’s be very clear: Sandy Cay is ours. It’s just 4 nautical miles from Pag-asa Island, and we’ve long exercised authority over it,” Romualdez said, pointing to the 2016 Arbitral Award that invalidated China’s sweeping claims in the South China Sea.
In response, the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) swiftly launched a joint maritime operation last April 27. With the Philippine Navy, Coast Guard, and Maritime Police on board, they covered Pag-asa Cay 1, Cay 2, and Cay 3, plus the surrounding waters—reaffirming the Philippines’ rightful and peaceful presence in the area.
Romualdez stressed that this is routine for the Philippines: peacefully asserting our sovereignty, defending our waters, and standing up for what’s right under international law.
His message to Beijing? “Cease these reckless provocations. Respect international law. Stop these cheap stunts.”
He also reassured Filipinos that the government remains firmly committed to protecting our people, our territory, and our future. The House of Representatives, he said, is solidly behind every effort to defend the West Philippine Sea.
“The Filipino people will not be bullied in our own backyard. Team Pilipinas tayo,” Romualdez declared.
Romualdez slammed China’s recent actions, which included deploying personnel, unfurling a Chinese flag, and conducting so-called “inspection” activities in the area. He called it exactly what it is—a desperate show to mislead the world and bolster their baseless claims.
“Let’s be very clear: Sandy Cay is ours. It’s just 4 nautical miles from Pag-asa Island, and we’ve long exercised authority over it,” Romualdez said, pointing to the 2016 Arbitral Award that invalidated China’s sweeping claims in the South China Sea.
In response, the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) swiftly launched a joint maritime operation last April 27. With the Philippine Navy, Coast Guard, and Maritime Police on board, they covered Pag-asa Cay 1, Cay 2, and Cay 3, plus the surrounding waters—reaffirming the Philippines’ rightful and peaceful presence in the area.
Romualdez stressed that this is routine for the Philippines: peacefully asserting our sovereignty, defending our waters, and standing up for what’s right under international law.
His message to Beijing? “Cease these reckless provocations. Respect international law. Stop these cheap stunts.”
He also reassured Filipinos that the government remains firmly committed to protecting our people, our territory, and our future. The House of Representatives, he said, is solidly behind every effort to defend the West Philippine Sea.
“The Filipino people will not be bullied in our own backyard. Team Pilipinas tayo,” Romualdez declared.
Apr 28, 2025
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