US think tank: 195 Chinese vessels linger daily in South China Sea

Chinese militia vessels operate at Whitsun Reef in the South China Sea, in this file picture from Dec 2, 2023. - Philippine Coast Guard/Handout via Reuters

MANILA: About 195 Chinese militia ships were present on any given day last year around key features in the South China Sea, according to a Washington-based think tank.

This is a “35-per cent increase” compared with the 12-month period of 2021-2022, the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (Amti) said in a Feb 28 report, citing satellite imagery last year of 10 features across the South China Sea “known to be frequented by Chinese militia ships.”