Philippines says Chinese vessels in reef, shoal ‘great concern’

Philippine Coast Guard has spotted a total of 12 Chinese maritime militia vessels loitering at Sabina Shoal. - Philippine Coast Guard

MANILA (Bloomberg): The Philippines’ Department of National Defence said Wednesday (Dec 14) it "views with great concern the reported swarming” of Chinese vessels in the Iroquois Reef and Sabina Shoal in the South China Sea.

"Our lines remain open to dialogue,” the agency said in a statement.