Philippines Alarmed by Roughly 200 Chinese Ships Near Disputed Island
- Over 200 ships likely part of Chinese militia seen near Thitu
- Manila military chief wants sustained South China Sea patrols
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More than 200 Chinese ships have been spotted near the Philippine-occupied Thitu Island in the South China Sea since the start of the year, triggering a diplomatic protest from the Philippines.
The fishing vessels stationed near the disputed island are likely part of China’s sea militia, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s spokesman Salvador Panelo said at a briefing Monday, citing information from the military. He said he was set to meet China’s ambassador to the Southeast Asian nation and ask about the bolstered Chinese presence in the area, after the Philippine Foreign Affairs Department issued a protest.