Manilla: In the midst of rising tensions over the disputed waters, the Philippine Coast Guard reported on Wednesday that more than 100 Chinese vessels had been spotted in the South China Sea near the Philippine coast.

The "Chinese maritime militia" and two ships from the Chinese Coast Guard were among the ships that were first spotted in the Spratly Islands around the third week of April. The Chinese Coast Guard was accused last week by the Philippines of "dangerous manoeuvres" and "aggressive tactics" after it intercepted Philippine patrol boats that were on duty in Second Thomas Shoal, also known as Ayungin Shoal.

The Chinese Coast Guard vessels are still in Ayungin Shoal, according to our monitoring. In Julian Felipe (Whitsun Reef), there are still more than 100 Chinese maritime militia, according to PCG spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela.

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Along with the risky manoeuvres they execute against Philippine Coast Guard vessels, they also consistently have radio problems. They were calling and accusing us of entering their territory and ordering us to leave the maritime features we regularly patrol immediately.

Based on its so-called "nine-dash line," which extends more than 1,500 kilometres off its mainland and enters the exclusive economic zones of several nations, including the Philippines, China asserts sovereignty over nearly the entire South China Sea.

The expansive Chinese claim to the waters was rejected by an international tribunal in The Hague in 2016, but Beijing did not accept the decision and has since rapidly expanded its military presence by constructing artificial island bases.

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The most recent developments occur as Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is visiting Washington, Manila's longtime military ally, and as geopolitical tensions over China's expanding presence in the region are rising.

During his meeting with Marcos on Monday, US President Joe Biden declared that America "remains ironclad in our commitment to the defence of the Philippines, including the South China Sea."

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Recently, China's growing presence in the disputed maritime region has alarmed both France and Australia. France's embassy in Manila declared that it was "opposed to any action that increases tensions and jeopardises regional stability," and Australia's envoy urged China to act in accordance with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.