By Carlyle Thayer*
Question: Re: News reports that 220 Chinese militia ships appeared in Philippine waters in the South China Sea. What do you think
about this deployment/activity? What can China do with the 220 ships?
ANSWER: China’s deployment of 220 Maritime Militia trawlers to Union Bank in
Philippine waters is aimed at putting pressure on President Duterte not to realign the
Philippines with the United States.
