After more than 135 military boats were spotted in the South China Sea, the Philippines accused China of” swarming” a reef off its coast.
The ships were “dispersed and scattered,” according to the coast guard, near Whitsun Reef, which it claims is a part of its exclusive economic area.
They described the increasing occurrence of these military vessels as “alarming.”
A regional disagreement between China, the Philippines, and additional nations is centered on the South China Sea.
Whitsun Reef, also known as Julian Felipe Reef in the Philippines, is located more than 1, 000 km from the closest significant Chinese landmass of Hainan island, about 320 km ( 200 miles ) west of Palawan Island.
According to the Philippine Coast Guard, there are now more Foreign sea militia vessels in the area than there were in November. There has n’t been a response from China.
Since Ferdinand Marcos Jr. took office as president last month, tension between the two nations over competing sovereignty says has grown.
The Philippines conducted two separate joint air and sea patrols last week with the US and a few days before with Australia.
China’s say to 90 % of the South China Sea was deemed invalid by an international tribunal in 2016, but Beijing refuses to acknowledge the decision and has been constructing islands in the contentious lakes in recent years.
In October, US President Joe Biden issued a warning that the US will support the Philippines in the event of an assault. The contested waterways have also emerged as an important marine battleground for China-US relations.
Days after two incidents between Filipino and Taiwanese ships in the lakes, President Biden made his remarks.
Pieces of the lake are likewise claimed by Taiwan, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Brunei.
