After swarming Pag-asa in the Kalayaan Island Group, Chinese vessels believed to be part of China’s maritime militia have been seen close to two other Philippine-occupied islands in the South China Sea. Some of the Chinese ships and boats were spotted as close as 1 kilometer off Kota (Loaita) and Panata (Loaita Cay), about 24 km south of Pag-asa (Thitu) Island, the biggest of nine islands and shoals occupied by Filipinos in the Spratly Island chain, according to US-based think tank Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (Amti). “Satellite images collected on March 12, 16, and 29, and April 7 confirm the presence of Chinese vessels in the area, most of which show every indication of belonging to the maritime militia,” Amti reported on Tuesday.

Mangosing, F., Andrade, J. I., Pazzibugan, D. Z., & Salaverria, L. B. (2019, April 18). Chinese vessels enter 2 more PH islands' waters. Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. A2.