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Photo provided by the Philippine Coast Guard showing Chinese militia boats operating in Whitsun Reef
The Philippines has accused China of “swarming” a reef off its coast after more than 135 military boats were spotted in the South China Sea.
The Coast Guard said the boats were “scattered and scattered” near Whitsun Reef, which it said was in its exclusive economic zone.
They said the growing presence of these military boats was “alarming.”
The South China Sea is at the center of a territorial dispute between China, the Philippines and other countries.
Whitsun Reef – called Julian Felipe Reef in the Philippines – is located about 320 km (200 miles) west of the island of Palawan, more than 1,000 km from the nearest major Chinese landmass, Hainan Island.
The Philippine Coast Guard said the number of Chinese maritime militia vessels in the area increased from 111 in November. There was no response from China.
Tensions between the two countries over competing sovereignty claims have increased since Ferdinand Marcos Jr. became president last year.
Last week, the Philippines conducted two separate joint air and maritime patrols with the United States and a few days earlier with Australia.
An international tribunal invalidated China’s claim to 90% of the South China Sea in 2016, but Beijing does not recognize the ruling and has been building islands in the disputed waters in recent years.
The disputed waters have also become a maritime flashpoint for China-US relations, and in October US President Joe Biden warned that the US would defend the Philippines in the event of an attack.
President Biden’s comments came days after two collisions between Philippine and Chinese ships in the waters.
Taiwan, Malaysia, Vietnam and Brunei also claim parts of the sea.