{"id":222075,"date":"2026-08-26T19:10:43","date_gmt":"2026-08-26T19:10:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/more-than-200-chinese-ships-mass-near-philippine-held-shoal-upi-com\/"},"modified":"2026-08-26T19:10:43","modified_gmt":"2026-08-26T19:10:43","slug":"more-than-200-chinese-ships-mass-near-philippine-held-shoal-upi-com","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/more-than-200-chinese-ships-mass-near-philippine-held-shoal-upi-com\/","title":{"rendered":"More than 200 Chinese ships mass near Philippine-held shoal &#8211; upi.com"},"content":{"rendered":"<br \/>\n<style type=\"text\/css\"> \t\t\tarticle ul\tli { list-style: disc; padding: 5px 0; } \t\t<\/style>\n<div style=\"padding-bottom: 15px;\"> \t\t\t<script type=\"module\" crossorigin data-ll=\"1\" data-src=\"https:\/\/instaread.co\/js\/instaread.player.js\"><\/script> \t\t\t<instaread-player publication=\"upi\"><\/instaread-player> \t\t<\/div>\n<div style=\"clear: both;\"><\/div>\n<article itemprop=\"articleBody\">\n<p><span class=\"story_dl\">Aug. 23 (Asia Today) &#8212;<\/span> 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&#8217;s Asahi Shimbun reported Sunday.<\/p>\n<p>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. <\/p>\n<div class=\"mt-5 text-center mb-5\"><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>Such a move could eventually place Second Thomas Shoal outside Philippine control and turn it into another Chinese military outpost, analysts warned. <\/p>\n<div class=\"mt-5 text-center mb-5\" style=\"min-height: 305px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-top: 10px;\"> <script type=\"module\" async src=\"https:\/\/cdn.gist.ai\/searchWidget.js\"><\/script> <gist-search-widget         api-key=\"pk_11ab9c202afbf011ffc985431209efe9f642ab3e23de13504e7bba8e6e59c921\"         user-id=\"upi.com\"         target-url=\"\/ask\"         ref-name=\"upi.com\"         theme=\"light\"         default-placeholder=\"Ask UPI...\"         id=\"upi-widget-1\">     <\/gist-search-widget><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<p>Mischief Reef lies within the Philippines&#8217; 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.<\/p>\n<p>The artificial island now contains a roughly 1.9-mile runway, radar installations and other facilities and serves as one of China&#8217;s key military outposts in the South China Sea.<\/p>\n<p>Bonji Ohara, representative director of DEEP DIVE and a former Japanese defense attach\u00e9 in China, and visiting fellow Miyabi Ishihara focused on the formation of the vessels gathered near the reef.<\/p>\n<p>More than 20 vessels were anchored while tied together in raft-like formations, a configuration inconsistent with normal fishing operations, according to their analysis.<\/p>\n<p>The unusual formation has fueled assessments that China could be using its maritime militia to expand its effective control in disputed waters.<\/p>\n<p><i>&#8212; Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI<\/i><\/p>\n<p><i>\u00a9 Asia Today. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution prohibited.<\/i><\/p>\n<p><i>Original Korean report: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.asiatoday.co.kr\/kn\/view.php?key=20260823010007444\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/www.asiatoday.co.kr\/kn\/view.php?key=20260823010007444<\/a><\/i><\/p>\n<div class=\"read-more-inline lato\">\n<h3 class=\"arimo bold\">Read More<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.upi.com\/Top_News\/World-News\/2026\/08\/21\/declined-criticize-nkorea-ballistic-missiles-launch\/1341787358619\/\" onclick=\"upi_gtag('Story', 'Related Article', 'World News');\"  title=\"China offers no criticism after latest North Korea missile launch\">China offers no criticism after latest North Korea missile launch<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.upi.com\/Voices\/2026\/07\/27\/Vietnams-trust-gap-Independent-analysis-matters-in-South-China-Sea\/5251785168101\/\" onclick=\"upi_gtag('Story', 'Related Article', 'World News');\"  title=\"Vietnam&#039;s trust gap: Independent analysis matters in South China Sea\">Vietnam&#8217;s trust gap: Independent analysis matters in South China Sea<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.upi.com\/Top_News\/US\/2026\/07\/22\/rubio-meets-Marcos-Manila\/8191784759348\/\" onclick=\"upi_gtag('Story', 'Related Article', 'World News');\"  title=\"Rubio meets with Philippines president, discusses South China Sea\">Rubio meets with Philippines president, discusses South China Sea<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"read-more-about\">\n<ul>\n<li>Topics<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.upi.com\/topic\/Defense\/\">Defense<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<div data-widget-host=\"revcontent\" data-lz-widget data-pub-id=\"49476\" data-widget-id=\"288021\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"sections\">\n<div class=\"sections-header m-t-20\">\n<div class=\"widget-header\">\n<h3 class=\"l-s-25\">Latest Headlines<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row story list m-t-30\">\n<div class=\"col-md-12\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.upi.com\/Top_News\/World-News\/2026\/08\/26\/latam-haiti-gang-killings\/4291787768733\/\" title=\"Haitian gangs threaten to kill more than 50 hostages\" onclick=\"upi_gtag('Story', 'Latest Headline', 'World News');\" class=\"row\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"col-md-4 col-sm-4 col-xs-4\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazy\" src=\"\/img\/clear.gif\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdnph.upi.com\/ph\/st\/th\/4291787768733\/2026\/i\/17877705088511\/v1.2\/Haitian-gangs-threaten-to-kill-more-than-50-hostages.jpg?stfi=1\" title=\"Haitian gangs threaten to kill more than 50 hostages\" alt=\"Haitian gangs threaten to kill more than 50 hostages\" width=\"200\" height=\"166\" style=\"width:200px; 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Korea, Japan: U.S. Pacific Command<\/div>\n<div class=\"content\">  The United States is preparing to conduct a trilateral military exercise with South Korea and Japan, the U.S. Pacific Command said Wednesday.<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12\">\n<hr>\n<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-md-12\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.upi.com\/Top_News\/World-News\/2026\/08\/26\/korea-South-Korea-births-up-156-percent-June\/7541787736510\/\" title=\"South Korea births up 15.6 pct in June, extend gains for 24th month\" onclick=\"upi_gtag('Story', 'Latest Headline', 'World News');\" class=\"row\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"col-md-4 col-sm-4 col-xs-4\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazy\" src=\"\/img\/clear.gif\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdnph.upi.com\/ph\/st\/th\/7541787736510\/2026\/i\/17877377183275\/v1.2\/South-Korea-births-up-156-pct-in-June-extend-gains-for-24th-month.jpg?stfi=1\" title=\"South Korea births up 15.6 pct in June, extend gains for 24th month\" alt=\"South Korea births up 15.6 pct in June, extend gains for 24th month\" width=\"200\" height=\"166\" style=\"width:200px; height: 166px;\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-md-8 col-sm-8 col-xs-8\">\n<div class=\"category\"><span>World News<\/span> <i class=\"time-ago\">\/\/ 9 hours ago<\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"title\">South Korea births up 15.6 pct in June, extend gains for 24th month<\/div>\n<div class=\"content\">  The number of babies born in South Korea rose 15.6 percent in June from a year earlier, marking the 24th consecutive month of on-year growth, government data showed Wednesday.<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12\">\n<hr>\n<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-md-12\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.upi.com\/Top_News\/World-News\/2026\/08\/26\/Kim-Jong-Un-Trump-economy-party-meeting-military-drills\/6651787729103\/\" title=\"Kim Jong Un focuses on economy, silent on Trump overtures\" onclick=\"upi_gtag('Story', 'Latest Headline', 'World News');\" class=\"row\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"col-md-4 col-sm-4 col-xs-4\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazy\" src=\"\/img\/clear.gif\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdnph.upi.com\/ph\/st\/th\/6651787729103\/2026\/upi_com\/44ca59577fd2df5bdd7fab25708e0003\/v1.2\/Kim-Jong-Un-focuses-on-economy-silent-on-Trump-overtures.jpg?stfi=1\" title=\"Kim Jong Un focuses on economy, silent on Trump overtures\" alt=\"Kim Jong Un focuses on economy, silent on Trump overtures\" width=\"200\" height=\"166\" style=\"width:200px; height: 166px;\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-md-8 col-sm-8 col-xs-8\">\n<div class=\"category\"><span>World News<\/span> <i class=\"time-ago\">\/\/ 10 hours ago<\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"title\">Kim Jong Un focuses on economy, silent on Trump overtures<\/div>\n<div class=\"content\"> SEOUL, Aug. 26 (UPI) &#8212; North Korean leader Kim Jong Un presided over a key party meeting, state-run media reported Wednesday, but made no mention of diplomatic outreach by President Trump.<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12\">\n<hr>\n<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-md-12\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.upi.com\/Top_News\/World-News\/2026\/08\/25\/SOUTHCOM-kills-four\/7491787708796\/\" title=\"U.S. kills 4 in strike on alleged drug boat in Caribbean, 2nd in days\" onclick=\"upi_gtag('Story', 'Latest Headline', 'World News');\" class=\"row\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"col-md-4 col-sm-4 col-xs-4\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazy\" src=\"\/img\/clear.gif\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdnph.upi.com\/ph\/st\/th\/7491787708796\/2026\/i\/17877127324721\/v1.2\/US-kills-4-in-strike-on-alleged-drug-boat-in-Caribbean-2nd-in-days.jpg?stfi=1\" title=\"U.S. kills 4 in strike on alleged drug boat in Caribbean, 2nd in days\" alt=\"U.S. kills 4 in strike on alleged drug boat in Caribbean, 2nd in days\" width=\"200\" height=\"166\" style=\"width:200px; height: 166px;\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-md-8 col-sm-8 col-xs-8\">\n<div class=\"category\"><span>World News<\/span> <i class=\"time-ago\">\/\/ 16 hours ago<\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"title\">U.S. kills 4 in strike on alleged drug boat in Caribbean, 2nd in days<\/div>\n<div class=\"content\"> Aug. 25 (UPI) &#8212; U.S. Southern Command forces killed four people Tuesday in its latest strike targeting an alleged drug-trafficking boat in the Caribbean.<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12\">\n<hr>\n<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"story_dl\">Aug. 23 (Asia Today) &#8212;<\/span> 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&#8217;s Asahi Shimbun reported Sunday.<br \/>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. <\/p>\n<div class=\"mt-5 text-center mb-5\"><\/div>\n<p>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.<br \/>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.<br \/>Such a move could eventually place Second Thomas Shoal outside Philippine control and turn it into another Chinese military outpost, analysts warned. <\/p>\n<div class=\"mt-5 text-center mb-5\" style=\"min-height: 305px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-top: 10px;\"> <script type=\"module\" async src=\"https:\/\/cdn.gist.ai\/searchWidget.js\"><\/script> <gist-search-widget         api-key=\"pk_11ab9c202afbf011ffc985431209efe9f642ab3e23de13504e7bba8e6e59c921\"         user-id=\"upi.com\"         target-url=\"\/ask\"         ref-name=\"upi.com\"         theme=\"light\"         default-placeholder=\"Ask UPI...\"         id=\"upi-widget-1\">     <\/gist-search-widget><\/div>\n<p>Mischief Reef lies within the Philippines&#8217; 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.<br \/>The artificial island now contains a roughly 1.9-mile runway, radar installations and other facilities and serves as one of China&#8217;s key military outposts in the South China Sea.<br \/>Bonji Ohara, representative director of DEEP DIVE and a former Japanese defense attach\u00e9 in China, and visiting fellow Miyabi Ishihara focused on the formation of the vessels gathered near the reef.<br \/>More than 20 vessels were anchored while tied together in raft-like formations, a configuration inconsistent with normal fishing operations, according to their analysis.<br \/>The unusual formation has fueled assessments that China could be using its maritime militia to expand its effective control in disputed waters.<br \/><i>&#8212; Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI<\/i><br \/><i>\u00a9 Asia Today. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution prohibited.<\/i><br \/><i>Original Korean report: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.asiatoday.co.kr\/kn\/view.php?key=20260823010007444\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/www.asiatoday.co.kr\/kn\/view.php?key=20260823010007444<\/a><\/i><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/news.google.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?oc=5\">source<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Aug. 23 (Asia Today) &#8212; 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&#8217;s Asahi Shimbun reported Sunday. According to private security analysis [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":222076,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-222075","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-world","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/222075","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=222075"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/222075\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/222076"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=222075"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=222075"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=222075"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}