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China recently deployed navy and coast guard ships in a cluster of uninhabited sandbars in the disputed South China Sea amid concerns that the Philippines may build structures on them. The government, however, said the issue was quickly resolved amid the Asian neighbors' friendlier ties. Three Chinese navy ships, a coast guard vessel and 10 fishing boats began keeping watch on Sandy Cay on Aug. 12 after a group of Filipino fishermen were spotted on the sandbars. The Filipinos eventually left but the Chinese stayed on. (AP Photo)
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A government security report seen by the AP says Chinese navy ships with bow numbers 504, 545 and 168, a Chinese coast guard ship with bow number 46115, and 10 Chinese fishing vessels took positions off Sandy Cay. Its nearest sandbar is about 2.5 nautical miles (4.6 kilometers) from Philippine-occupied Thitu Island. (AP Photo)
On August 15, a blue Chinese helicopter flew low off Thitu's southwest coast. Philippine troops and villagers based at Thitu call it Pag-asa _Tagalog for hope _ while the Chinese call the island Zhongye Dao. The Chinese military presence near Thitu sparked concerns in Manila. (AP Photo) 
Philippine Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, who has studied the disputes extensively, said the Chinese navy ships and other vessels encroached in the Philippine island's 12-nautical mile (22-kilometer) territorial waters. (AP Photo) 
One of the Philippine security officials said the military has been monitoring the Chinese presence at Sandy Cay but added it was difficult to check if Beijing's ships were still there due to bad weather in the remote offshore region. (AP Photo) 
However, Alan Peter Cayetano said that the issue has been diplomatically resolved and denied that China has invaded Sandy Cay. (AP Photo)
US announces new visa immigration fee for foreign nationals
