The Philippines said Sunday more than 135 Chinese vessels were “swarming” a reef off its coast, describing the boats’ growing presence as “alarming”.
The Chinese boats were “dispersed and scattered” within the boomerang-shaped Whitsun Reef, which the Philippines calls Julian Felipe Reef, around 320 kilometres (200 miles) west of Palawan Island, the coast guard said.
Whitsun Reef is more than 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) from the nearest major Chinese landmass of Hainan island.
The Philippines said it counted 111 “Chinese maritime militia vessels” (CMM) on November 13. When the coast guard deployed two patrol boats to the area on Saturday the number had increased to “more than 135”, the coast guard said.
“No response was made to the radio challenges issued by the PCG (Philippines Coast Guard) to the CMM vessels which is now estimated to have grown to more than 135 vessels…
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