Malacañang on Thursday denied claims that a Chinese flag has been planted on a sandbar near Philippine-controlled Kota Island in the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea). Quoting a “very reliable source,” Palace spokesman Ernesto Abella said there was no Chinese flag on the sandbar, a Philippine territory. Abella issued the statement after Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano said the Chinese flag mounted on a steel pipe was discovered near Kota Island around the third week of July. “A Chinese vessel allegedly erected the said three-meter high Chinese flag on a sand cay which is known to be within a Philippine-controlled area,” Alejano said in a statement. He called on government officials, particularly those in the Department of Foreign Affairs, to be transparent on issues regarding disputed waters in the South China Sea.

Source: Manila Times August 24, 2017 12:22 UTC