Manila, April 30 -- The Philippines raised the country's flag on Sandy Cay to assert its sovereign rights over the area, Malacanang said on Wednesday.

This, after the Philippine Navy (PN), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and Philippine National Police (PNP)-Maritime Group displayed the Philippine flag on Sandy Cay during an inter-agency maritime operation on Monday to counter China's narrative that it had seized the area.

Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the move was in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s promise "not to surrender even a small part of our country."

"Pagpapakita ito na hindi kontrolado ng China Coast Guard ang Pag-asa Cay 2 (This shows that the China C...