MANILA, Philippines—Philippine sovereign patrols in the West Philippine Sea increased dramatically after more than 200 China vessels swarmed Julian Felipe (Whitsun) Reef last March.
American think-tank Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI), of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, confirmed that the Philippines escalated its presence in the West Philippine Sea as Beijing continued to trash calls for the withdrawal of China ships from Philippine waters.
The Philippines bolstered its patrols in its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) shortly after China assembled hundreds of militia vessels at Julian Felipe Reef, which is also inside Philippine EEZ.
The China vess…
Keep on reading: US think tank sees ‘dramatic’ rise in PH patrols in West Philippine Sea