China’s coast guard holds National Day celebrations at disputed shoal claimed by Philippines

China's seashore defender connected Wednesday (October 1, 2025) raised the country's reddish and yellowish emblem to observe its National Day successful the waters adjacent a disputed shoal successful the South China Sea, soon aft declaring the country a quality reserve.

In a video posted by state-owned media outlet Global Times connected Douyin, the Chinese mentation of TikTok, Chinese seashore defender members are seen taking portion successful a flag-raising ceremonial aboard a vessel and saluting the flag.

The unit was “carrying retired regular power duties ... connected the beforehand lines successful protecting the seas,” Global Times reported.

China approved the constitution of a nationalist quality reserve astatine the disputed Scarborough Shoal successful September, drafting fierce protestation from the Philippines.

Experts accidental China’s constitution of a quality reserve successful the country is simply a territorial determination alternatively than an biology one, designed to bolster its claims of sovereignty.

While a 2016 planetary arbitration ruling invalidated Beijing’s expansive territorial claims connected historical grounds, China has forged up with its claims implicit the islets and waters of the South China Sea. In caller years, it has engaged successful predominant showdowns with Philippine vessels, peculiarly astatine Scarborough Shoal, which China calls Huangyan Dao.