After fortifying its naval outposts in the South China Sea, China has established a maritime surveillance patrol route that covers practically all disputed reefs, shoals and islets in the sea, even those within 85 nautical miles of the Philippines’ westernmost island province of Palawan, a classified military report seen Monday by Kyodo News says.
The report says China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy’s South Sea Fleet established the new patrol pattern this year, resulting in several incursions that have heightened tensions in the region.