Hundreds of Chinese militia vessels were still scattered around the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, both within and outside Manila’s exclusive economic zone, according to a Philippine task force. In a statement, the task force said 287 Chinese ships were still in Philippine waters, many of them spotted near artificial islands built by China, while some were near islands occupied by Manila, based on patrols made on May 9. Two Houbei class missile warships were also near Mischief Reef, while two Vietnamese logistics ships and a VN Coast Guard vessel were at Grierson Reef, it said.

Aquino, N. P. (2021, May 13). Chinese vessels still in Spratlys, says task force. BusinessWorld, p. S1/12.