MANILA, Philippines — A swarm of Chinese vessels, including an aircraft carrier, was monitored near Pag-Asa (Thitu) Island, a Philippine-held territory in the South China Sea.
Retired United States Air Force Col. Ray Powell, director of SeaLight, a maritime transparency project, reported on Tuesday that this was “by far the largest swarm of Chinese vessels” he has observed in the area.
“Despite clouds, I count at least 73-75 ships sitting 2.5-5.5 nautical miles from the Philippines-held island—well within its 12-nautical-mile territorial sea,” Powell said.
The swarm comprises a Chinese aircraft carrier, one Chinese Coast Guard ship, and dozens of maritime militia vessels. Swarming, a tactic commonly used by China, involves deploying large numbers of vessels to intimidate, assert dominance, or provide a security screen for specific missions.
Pag-Asa Island is part of the disputed Spratly Islands and serves as a strategic outpost for the Philippines. The presence of such a large fleet raises concerns over escalating tensions in the region, which is a flashpoint for territorial disputes involving China, the Philippines, and other Southeast Asian nations.
The Philippine government has yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident.
