A spokesperson for the Philippine Coast Guard announced on Sunday that the Philippines has deployed navigational buoys within its exclusive economic zone to assert sovereignty over the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.
The Coast Guard stated that five buoys, displaying the national flag, were installed between May 10 and 12 at five locations within an area extending 200 miles (322 kilometers), including the Whitsun Reef, where hundreds of Chinese naval vessels anchored in 2021.
Commodore Jay Tarriela, the Coast Guard spokesperson for South China Sea matters, highlighted on Twitter that "this move underscores the Philippines' steadfast commitment to protecting its maritime boundaries and resources and contributing to the safety of maritime trade."
This action comes in response to "increasingly aggressive Chinese actions" in the South China Sea, as Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. seeks to strengthen relations with the country's ally, the United States.
Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam also claim sovereignty over the Spratly Islands, where China has dredged sand to build islands on coral reefs, equipping them with missiles and runways.
