Chinese coastguard officers have seized a strip of land in the South China Sea in a major escalation of a territorial dispute with the Philippines. State broadcaster CCTV released images showing four officers in black uniforms holding the Chinese flag whilst standing on Sandy Cay in the Spratly Islands.

The two countries have previously jostled over Sandy Cay, known as Tiexian Reef in Chinese and Pag-asa Cays in the Philippines.

The Philippines disputes reports from Chinese media claiming Beijing's control over the disputed Sandy Cay in the South China Sea. Philippine officials assure that no occupation exists, amidst ongoing tensions over sovereignty in the region due to China's assertive maritime activities.