Tides of Trouble: A New Flashpoint in the South China Sea The recent landing of Chinese scientists on Sandy Cay reef has reignited tensions between Beijing and Manila, casting a shadow over the already tumultuous waters of the South China Sea.
This incident is just the latest skirmish in the long running dispute, but its implications extend far beyond the region.
China's deployment of the research vessel Xiang Yang Hong 33 to Sandy Cay reef is an attempt to assert its claims over this strategically located reef.