Sandy Cay (South China Sea)
{{Short description|Coral reef in the Spratly Islands, South China Sea}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{distinguish|Sand Cay}}
{{Infobox islands
| disputed = yes
| name = Sandy Cay
| other_names = 铁线中礁 Tiěxiànzhong Jiao / 铁线礁 Tiěxiàn Jiāo (Chinese)
Pag-asa Cay 2 (Filipino)
Đá Hoài Ân (Vietnamese){{Cite journal |last=Ibarra |first=Edcel John |date=November 2021 |title=The Controversy Surrounding Sandy Cay: Examining the Public Evidence |url=https://fsi.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/FSI-Insights-November-2021.pdf |journal=FSI Insights |publisher=Center for International Relations and Strategic Studies |volume=VII |issue=2}}
| image = Filipino scientists inspects feature Sandy Cay, South China Sea.jpg
| image_size =
| image_caption = One of the four Sandy Cay reefs
| pushpin_map = South China Sea
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption =
| pushpin_relief =
| pushpin_label =
| pushpin_label_position =
| location = South China Sea
| archipelago = Spratly Islands
| coordinates = {{coord|11|03|36.0|N|114|13|08.0|E|display=inline, title}}
| length =
| width =
| depth =
| country1 = {{CHN}}
| country1_admin_divisions_title = City
| country1_admin_divisions = Sansha, Hainan
| country2 = {{PHL}}
| country2_admin_divisions_title = Municipality
| country2_admin_divisions = Kalayaan, Palawan
| country3 = {{ROC-TW}}
| country3_admin_divisions_title = Municipality
District
| country3_admin_divisions = Kaohsiung
Cijin
| country4 = {{VNM}}
| country4_admin_divisions_title = District
| country4_admin_divisions = Trường Sa, Khánh Hòa
}}
Sandy Cay is a small coral reef in the northern Thitu Reefs of the Spratly Islands, South China Sea. It consists of multiple shallow reef platforms with dynamic sandbanks and is claimed by China, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam. Sandy Cay Reef lies approximately 1.5 nautical miles northwest of Thitu Island and 9.3 nautical miles northeast of Subi Reef within the western atoll rim of the Thitu Reefs.{{Cite web |title=SANDY CAY (THITU REEFS) |url=https://cil.nus.edu.sg/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Thitu-Reefs-Sandy-Cay-Final.pdf |access-date=26 April 2025 |website=Centre for International Law}}
In 2017, the Philippines planned to build shelter for fishermen in the maritime feature. This plan was halted after China opposed the plan in August. Filipino foreign secretary Alan Peter Cayetano informed President Rodrigo Duterte believing that such action would be a violation of the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. Duterte stated he received assurance from China that it will not occupy the reef.{{Cite news |last=Del Callar |first=Michaela |date=8 November 2017 |title=Duterte stops PHL build on Sandy Cay due to China protest, DND says |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/632376/duterte-stops-phl-build-on-sandy-cay-due-to-china-protest-dnd/story/ |access-date=28 April 2025 |work=GMA News |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Mangosing |first=Frances |date=25 July 2019 |title=Lorenzana: Philippines did not lose Sandy Cay |url=https://globalnation.inquirer.net/178308/lorenzana-philippines-did-not-lose-sandy-cay |access-date=28 April 2025 |work=Philippine Daily Inquirer |language=en}} Since then the feature has remained unoccupied by any claimant country, but Chinese maritime vessels have loitered around its vicinity.
In mid-April 2025, the China Coast Guard conducted a landing on the reef to "exercise sovereign jurisdiction," raising a Chinese flag on the sandbank and was reported as a seizure of the maritime feature.{{Cite news |last=Hille |first=Kathrin |last2=Sevastopulo |first2=Demetri |date=26 April 2025 |title=China seizes disputed reef in the South China Sea |url=https://www.ft.com/content/ae6acb23-7b09-4783-8ebb-9e88b5126361 |access-date=26 April 2025 |publisher=Financial Times}}{{Cite news |last=Zhen |first=Liu |date=26 April 2025 |title=Chinese coastguard claims ‘sovereign jurisdiction’ of Sandy Cay in South China Sea |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3307831/china-coastguard-claims-sovereign-jurisdiction-sandy-cay-south-china-sea |access-date=26 April 2025 |publisher=South China Morning Post}} This however, was disputed by the Philippine Navy and Coast Guard who said they went there afterwards but found nothing there,{{Cite news |date=28 April 2025 |title=Philippine Navy denies alleged China occupation of Sandy Cay |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/944184/philippine-navy-denies-alleged-china-occupation-of-sandy-cay/story/ |access-date=28 April 2025 |publisher=GMA News}} and the reef itself is not under Chinese control.{{Cite news |date=28 April 2025 |title=Disputed West PH Sea reef: Manila slams ‘irresponsible’ Chinese report |url=https://www.inquirer.net/438676/disputed-west-ph-sea-reef-manila-denies-irresponsible-chinese-report/ |access-date=28 April 2025 |publisher=Philippine Daily Inquirer}}{{Cite news |last=Argosino |first=Faith |date=28 April 2025 |title=PCG: Maritime op at Pag-asa Cay proves China's claim is false |url=https://www.inquirer.net/438629/fwd-pcg-maritime-ops-at-pag-asa-cay-proves-chinas-narrative-is-false/ |access-date=28 April 2025 |work=Philippine Daily Inquirer |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=28 April 2025 |title=PH raises flag on Sandy Cay to debunk China’s claim |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/944266/ph-raises-flag-on-sandy-cay-to-debunk-china-s-claim/story/ |access-date=29 April 2025 |publisher=GMA News}} The Philippines also raised their national flag. Both landings were officially objected to by Vietnam.{{Cite news |date=3 May 2025 |title=Vietnam opposes China, Philippines' moves on South China Sea reef |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/east-asia/vietnam-opposes-china-philippines-moves-south-china-sea-reef-5106606 |access-date=3 May 2025 |work=Channel News Asia}}