Reuters
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Sunday said it is monitoring the "illegal presence" of more than 135 Chinese maritime militia vessels at a reef in the South China Sea. In response, it said its chief has ordered patrols in the vicinity of Whitsun Reef, which Manila calls the Julian Felipe Reef, and lies within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ). "The PCG maintains its unwavering commitment to safeguarding maritime security, safety and the marine environment in the course of protecting the territorial integrity, sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction of the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea," it said in a statement.