South China Sea: alarm in Philippines as 200 Chinese vessels gather at disputed reef

Philippines defence chief says vessels at Whitsun reef are manned by militias rather than fishermen, and accuses Beijing of provocation'

The Philippines' defence chief has demanded more than 200 Chinese vessels he said were manned by militias leave a South China Sea reef claimed by Manila, saying their presence was a provocative action of militarising the area."

We call on the Chinese to stop this incursion and immediately recall these boats violating our maritime rights and encroaching into our sovereign territory," defence secretary Delfin Lorenzana said in a statement on Sunday, adding without elaborating that the Philippines would uphold its sovereign rights.