China Militia Presence Increases in South China Sea, Report Says
A Chinese coast guard ship near the China-controlled Scarborough Shoal, in disputed waters of the South China Sea on Feb. 16.
Photographer: Ted Aljibe/AFP/Getty Images
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The number of Chinese maritime militia vessels around key features across the South China Sea grew by 35% last year as Beijing continued to bolster its presence amid rising regional tensions, according to data by the Washington-based Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative.
A report released on Wednesday and based on satellite imagery of nine features in the sea, including reefs and shoals, identified an average of 195 militia ships present on any given day.