Swarm of over 70 Chinese ships spotted near Pag-asa Island
(UPDATE) A LARGE-SCALE presence of Chinese vessels, including an aircraft carrier, was observed near Pag-asa (Thitu) Island, a key Philippine-held territory in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). This development, reported on Wednesday by retired US Air Force colonel Ray Powell, director of SeaLight, a maritime transparency project, marks a significant escalation in the disputed waters. "This is by far the largest swarm of Chinese vessels I have observed in the area," Powell said Tuesday. Despite cloudy conditions, he counted at least 73 to 75 vessels, including a Chinese aircraft carrier, one China Coast Guard ship and dozens of maritime militia vessels. The flotilla was within 2.5 to 5.5 nautical miles of Pag-asa Island, well inside its 12-nautical-mile territorial sea. The tactic of swarming, often employed by China, involves deploying large numbers of vessels to assert dominance, intimidate other claimants, or provide a security screen for strategic objectives. The scale of this operation near Pag-asa Island has drawn attention, given the island's strategic importance as a hub for Philippine operations in the Spratly Islands. Pag-asa Island is the largest feature in the Kalayaan Island Group, serving as both a civilian community and a military outpost. Home to over 400 residents, including 70 children, the island also houses stationed military personnel and civilian government workers. The government has not yet issued an official statement regarding the incident. However, it comes at a time of increasing militarization in the region. Vice Admiral Alfonso Torres Jr., commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines' (AFP) Western Command, recently disclosed that new military infrastructure on Pag-asa Island is nearing completion. A new hangar, expected to be operational by year-end, will facilitate air operations in the Kalayaan Island Group. The control tower on the island will serve as the headquarters for the Philippine Air Force's Tactical Operations Group, further enhancing the Philippines' operational capabilities. These developments coincide with military drills conducted earlier this month on Kota Island, about 20 miles from Pag-asa, as part of the AFP's preparations to defend against external threats. Pag-asa Island lies at the heart of the broader territorial disputes in the South China Sea. China claims virtually the entire sea, including Pag-asa, under its nine-dash line, a claim dismissed as baseless by an international tribunal ruling in 2016. Despite this legal setback, China has continued to assert its claims through military and civilian presence in the region.
Tomas Kauer - Moderator 
(UPDATE) A LARGE-SCALE presence of Chinese vessels, including an aircraft carrier, was observed near Pag-asa (Thitu) Island, a key Philippine-held territory in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
This development, reported on Wednesday by retired US Air Force colonel Ray Powell, director of SeaLight, a maritime transparency project, marks a significant escalation in the disputed waters.
"This is by far the largest swarm of Chinese vessels I have observed in the area," Powell said Tuesday. Despite cloudy conditions, he counted at least 73 to 75 vessels, including a Chinese aircraft carrier, one China Coast Guard ship and dozens of maritime militia vessels.
The flotilla was within 2.5 to 5.5 nautical miles of Pag-asa Island, well inside its 12-nautical-mile territorial sea.
The tactic of swarming, often employed by China, involves deploying large numbers of vessels to assert dominance, intimidate other claimants, or provide a security screen for strategic objectives. The scale of this operation near Pag-asa Island has drawn attention, given the island's strategic importance as a hub for Philippine operations in the Spratly Islands.
Pag-asa Island is the largest feature in the Kalayaan Island Group, serving as both a civilian community and a military outpost. Home to over 400 residents, including 70 children, the island also houses stationed military personnel and civilian government workers.
The government has not yet issued an official statement regarding the incident. However, it comes at a time of increasing militarization in the region. Vice Admiral Alfonso Torres Jr., commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines' (AFP) Western Command, recently disclosed that new military infrastructure on Pag-asa Island is nearing completion.
A new hangar, expected to be operational by year-end, will facilitate air operations in the Kalayaan Island Group. The control tower on the island will serve as the headquarters for the Philippine Air Force's Tactical Operations Group, further enhancing the Philippines' operational capabilities.
These developments coincide with military drills conducted earlier this month on Kota Island, about 20 miles from Pag-asa, as part of the AFP's preparations to defend against external threats.
Pag-asa Island lies at the heart of the broader territorial disputes in the South China Sea. China claims virtually the entire sea, including Pag-asa, under its nine-dash line, a claim dismissed as baseless by an international tribunal ruling in 2016. Despite this legal setback, China has continued to assert its claims through military and civilian presence in the region.
