U.S. Rips China ‘Maritime Militia,’ Backs Philippines in Row
- More than 200 Chinese vessels were spotted near disputed reef
- Duterte plans to discuss the issue with China’s envoy
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The U.S. expressed concerns over the presence of more than 200 Chinese fishing vessels near a disputed South China Sea reef, saying Beijing uses “maritime militia to intimidate, provoke and threaten other nations.”
Chinese boats “have been mooring in this area for many months in ever increasing numbers, regardless of the weather,” the U.S. embassy in the Philippines said in a statement. China earlier said that its vessels near Whitsun Reef were sheltering from the wind.