Philippines denies Chinese report on disputed reef

Philippine National security Council Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya (centre) speaking while Commodore Jay Tarriela (right), Coast Guard spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea and navy Rear Admiral Roy Trinidad (left), spokesman for South China Sea issues, listen during a press conference in Manila on April 28, 2025. - AFP

MANILA: The Philippines on Monday (April 28) slammed an "irresponsible" Chinese state media report claiming a disputed reef in the South China Sea was under Beijing's control, saying the status quo was unchanged.

The Sandy Cay reef lies near Thitu Island, or Pag-asa, where the Philippines stations troops and maintains a coast guard monitoring base.