Back to the future: Beijing seizes tiny sandbank in South China Sea

[Guest reader]

Just when China was appearing to be the adult in the room when tariffs were being discussed, it played the hand of colonial land grabber, confirming its poorly veiled intentions in the South China Sea.

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From The BBC

The Chinese coastguard has seized a tiny sandbank in the South China Sea, state media has reported, in an escalation of a regional dispute with the Philippines.

State broadcaster CCTV released images of four officers, wearing all black and holding the Chinese flag, standing on the disputed reef of Sandy Cay in the Spratly Islands.

CCTV said China had "implemented maritime control and exercised sovereign jurisdiction" on the reef earlier in April.

Both China and the Philippines have staked claims on various islands. The Philippines said later on Sunday that it had landed on three sandbanks, releasing an image of officers holding up their national flag in a pose that mimicked the Chinese photo.

Continues with photo

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/creqp4lxnl4o