THE Philippines rejected China’s claim to a group of three sandbars in the South China Sea today, after both sides displayed their national flags on the uninhabited outcroppings in recent days.

The row over Sandy Cay is the latest flare-up in a long-running dispute over territory in the hotly contested sea, which China claims almost in its entirety.

It began last Thursday when a Chinese state-owned newspaper posted exclusive photographs from mid-April of coastguard officers on Sandy Cay, including one holding up a Chinese flag.

Three days later, a joint Philippines coastguard, navy and maritime police team headed to the three sandbars and posed for a photo with the national flag.

“This operation reflects the unwavering dedication and commitment of the Philippine government to uphold the country’s sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea,” the government said in a posting on X.

On Sunday, the Chinese coastguard described the Philippine landing as “illegal” and said that Chinese officers had gone ashore “to conduct on-site verification and enforcement measures.”

The sandbars are in the Spratly Islands between Philippine-occupied Thitu Island and Chinese-held Subi Reef.