CHINA has deployed a Coast Guard ship and 32 militia vessels to an area in the West Philippine Sea where a local ship was en route for a resupply mission, according to a US-based security expert that provided The Manila Times with data from its automatic identification system (AIS).
Quoting the AIS information, Ray Powell said the BRP Cabra and the BRP Malabrigo, both Philippine Coast Guard ships, were escorting several small ships and as they were approaching Ayungin Shoal, 'China Coast Guard 5402 and 4 militia interdicted. At least 27-28 militia ships were also deployed near Mischief Reef,' said Powell.'Huge reaction to a single 44-meter PCG vessel escorting some wooden boats,' Powell said.
'He added that China's militia ship, Qiong Sansha Yu 00402, 'seems to have crossed the bow' of the BRP Malabrigo.'Precise positions are hard to confirm via AIS, but Malabrigo's abrupt course reversal indicates it may have been reacting to an unsafe Chinese maneuver,' said Powell.Powell said China has been building a Mischief Reef-based armada for weeks, accelerating through July.On May 4, there was only one CCG ship and 3 militia vessels monitored.
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