The Philippine coastguard has anchored five navigational buoys in the South China Sea, a government official said on May 15, 2023. The buoys carrying national flags were set up in several locations including the Whitsun Reef, where China has moored hundreds of vessels since 2021. The move is described as an attempt to assert sovereignty over the disputed area and comes amid heightened tensions between Beijing and Manila as Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr pursues warmer ties with Washington.

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