(The Week) The Philippines said Saturday that it had spotted a Chinese naval ship off the coast of a Philippine-occupied island in the South China Sea.
The Philippine Coast Guard confirmed the presence of “a People’s Liberation Army Navy vessel,” along with a Chinese Coast Guard ship, off the coast of Thitu Island. In addition, Philippine officials said that they identified at least 42 vessels that were reportedly operated by Chinese militia officers.
Reuters reported that Thitu is “Manila’s biggest and most strategically important outpost in the South China Sea.” The sea has been largely under a series of political clashes in recent years, with China claiming — over the objections of several Asian countries — that it controls the water’s territories. .. Read More
