Philippines "Alarmed" After 135 Chinese Boats "Swarming" Reef Off Its Coast

When the coast guard deployed two patrol boats to the area on Saturday the number had increased to "more than 135".

The Philippines said Sunday more than 135 Chinese vessels were "swarming" a reef off its coast, describing the boats' growing presence as "alarming".

The Chinese boats were "dispersed and scattered" within the boomerang-shaped Whitsun Reef, which the Philippines calls Julian Felipe Reef, around 320 kilometres (200 miles) west of Palawan Island, the coast guard said.

Whitsun Reef is more than 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) from the nearest major Chinese landmass of Hainan island.