In September, 101 Chinese navy or coast guard vessels were spotted near Philippine-controlled islands in the Spratly Islands, the Philippine military said. That was nearly double the number in August.
China and the Philippines, along with several other countries, claim territories, islands and atolls in the South China Sea. Chinese and Philippine ships occasionally collide, leading to diplomatic fallout.
China claims almost the entire South China Sea, despite the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruling in 2016 that there was no legal basis for its claim. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also claim parts of the waters.
