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China’s militarization of islands in the South China Sea is well known at this point. In particular they have built up military installations on the Spratly islands. This 2017 video from Vox remains the best visual primer on this topic. They key point here is something called the “cabbage strategy” which is a way of establishing dominance in a contested part of the South China Sea by sending a wave of ships into the area.
With that in mind, take a look at what China has been doing this week off the coast of the Phillipines and not far from the Spratly Islands.
Philippine military patrols have spotted more Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea last week including 48 Chinese fishing vessels swarming Iroquois Reef and 5 Chinese Coast Guard and People’s Liberation Army Navy vessels near Sabina Shoal…
The Philippine military said 3 China Coast Guard (CCG) ships and two People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels have also been spotted regularly loitering in Sabina Shoal, compared to two wooden resupply boats from the Philippines and two Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessels.
The military said the developments “raise an alarming concern about China’s intentions and actions within these disputed waters.
