Aug. 23 (Asia Today) — More than 200 Chinese vessels have gathered around Mischief Reef in the disputed South China Sea, raising concerns that Beijing may be preparing to tighten pressure on or eventually seize nearby Second Thomas Shoal, which is controlled by the Philippines, Japan’s Asahi Shimbun reported Sunday.
According to private security analysis group DEEP DIVE, the number of Chinese vessels anchored at Mischief Reef in the eastern Spratly Islands rose sharply from fewer than 40 in mid-May to 80 on May 27. The number exceeded 150 in early June and reached 228 on July 3, Asia Today reported, citing the Asahi report.
Mischief Reef lies roughly 25 miles west of Second Thomas Shoal. The large concentration of vessels has raised concerns that China could use them to disrupt Philippine military resupply operations or as preparation for an attempt to seize the shoal.
The development has heightened military tensions in the South China Sea amid fears that China could repeat the approach it used at Mischief Reef, where it established control before constructing an artificial island and military facilities.
Such a move could eventually place Second Thomas Shoal outside Philippine control and turn it into another Chinese military outpost, analysts warned.
Mischief Reef lies within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, but China began establishing a presence there in the mid-1990s and later took effective control of the reef. Beijing subsequently conducted extensive land reclamation and construction during the 2010s.
The artificial island now contains a roughly 1.9-mile runway, radar installations and other facilities and serves as one of China’s key military outposts in the South China Sea.
Bonji Ohara, representative director of DEEP DIVE and a former Japanese defense attaché in China, and visiting fellow Miyabi Ishihara focused on the formation of the vessels gathered near the reef.
More than 20 vessels were anchored while tied together in raft-like formations, a configuration inconsistent with normal fishing operations, according to their analysis.
The unusual formation has fueled assessments that China could be using its maritime militia to expand its effective control in disputed waters.
— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI
© Asia Today. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution prohibited.
Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260823010007444
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Aug. 23 (Asia Today) — More than 200 Chinese vessels have gathered around Mischief Reef in the disputed South China Sea, raising concerns that Beijing may be preparing to tighten pressure on or eventually seize nearby Second Thomas Shoal, which is controlled by the Philippines, Japan’s Asahi Shimbun reported Sunday.
According to private security analysis group DEEP DIVE, the number of Chinese vessels anchored at Mischief Reef in the eastern Spratly Islands rose sharply from fewer than 40 in mid-May to 80 on May 27. The number exceeded 150 in early June and reached 228 on July 3, Asia Today reported, citing the Asahi report.
Mischief Reef lies roughly 25 miles west of Second Thomas Shoal. The large concentration of vessels has raised concerns that China could use them to disrupt Philippine military resupply operations or as preparation for an attempt to seize the shoal.
The development has heightened military tensions in the South China Sea amid fears that China could repeat the approach it used at Mischief Reef, where it established control before constructing an artificial island and military facilities.
Such a move could eventually place Second Thomas Shoal outside Philippine control and turn it into another Chinese military outpost, analysts warned.
Mischief Reef lies within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, but China began establishing a presence there in the mid-1990s and later took effective control of the reef. Beijing subsequently conducted extensive land reclamation and construction during the 2010s.
The artificial island now contains a roughly 1.9-mile runway, radar installations and other facilities and serves as one of China’s key military outposts in the South China Sea.
Bonji Ohara, representative director of DEEP DIVE and a former Japanese defense attaché in China, and visiting fellow Miyabi Ishihara focused on the formation of the vessels gathered near the reef.
More than 20 vessels were anchored while tied together in raft-like formations, a configuration inconsistent with normal fishing operations, according to their analysis.
The unusual formation has fueled assessments that China could be using its maritime militia to expand its effective control in disputed waters.
— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI
© Asia Today. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution prohibited.
Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260823010007444