China and Philippines display flags on disputed sandbank in the South China Sea

China has upped the stakes in a dispute over islands in the South China Sea by occupying a tiny sandbank near Thitu Island.

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Thitu is home to a Philippine military base and members of the Chinese coast guard were pictured on Chinese TV with their national flag, seemingly declaring sovereignty over the tiny sandy island a few kilometres away.
The White House said that if true, the reports were "deeply concerning".

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