China holds National Day ceremony in waters off atoll claimed by Philippines

1/10/2025 17:38

China's coast guard held a National Day flag-raising ceremony on a ship in the waters off the disputed Scarborough Shoal, vowing to "stand guard" over the atoll, a major flashpoint for diplomatic flare-ups and maritime clashes with the Philippines.



Both countries claim the triangular feature in the busy waterway of the South China Sea, but it is effectively under Beijing's control. In September, China infuriated Manila with a plan to set up a "national" nature reserve there.



Coast Guard officers standing in formation on the rear deck of the patrol vessel Dahao (3304) saluted as the Chinese flag was raised, a video showed in a Coast Guard posting on Wednesday on Douyin, known as TikTok outside China.



"We stand guard over these blue waters, assuring the nation of our unwavering commitment," the video subtitles read.



CCG vessel 3304 had been previously challenged by the Philippine Coast Guard for its "illegal presence" at the shoal, which China calls Huangyan Island while in the Philippines it is known as the Panatag Shoal.