The Chinese boats were "dispersed and scattered" within the boomerang-shaped Whitsun Reef, which the Philippines calls Julian Felipe Reef, around 320 kilometres (200 miles) west of Palawan Island, the coast guard said.
Whitsun Reef is more than 1,000 kilometres from the nearest major Chinese landmass of Hainan island.
The Philippines said it counted 111 "Chinese maritime militia vessels" (CMM) on November 13. When the coast guard deployed two patrol boats to the area on Saturday the number had increased to "more than 135", the force said.
"No response was made to the radio challenges issued by the PCG (Philippine Coast Guard) to the CMM vessels which is now estimated to have grown to more than 135 vessels dispersed and scattered within Julian Felipe Reef," Manila's coast guard said, describing the boats' presence as "alarming" and "illegal".
The Chinese embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Beijing claims most of the South China Sea, including waters and islands close to the shores of its neighbours, and has ignored an international tribunal decision that its assertion has no legal basis.
It deploys vessels to patrol the waters, and has built artificial islands and military installations to reinforce its stance.
The Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam have also staked claims to various islands and reefs in the sea, which is believed to have rich petroleum reserves deep beneath its waters.
The coast guard released images Sunday which it said showed Chinese vessels lined up in formation while others were scattered around the waters.
In 2021, a similar incident involving more than 200 Chinese vessels at the reef sparked a diplomatic row between Manila and Beijing.
At the time, Manila insisted their incursion into the Philippines' exclusive economic zone was unlawful.
But China insisted they were fishing boats sheltering from bad weather and were allowed to be there.
The Philippines announced Friday that it was establishing a coast guard station on the largest island it holds in the South China Sea to improve the monitoring of Chinese vessels.
The coast guard station would be equipped with "advanced systems", including radar, satellite communication, coastal cameras and vessel traffic management, National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano said during a visit to Thitu Island.
The station has been built and is expected to be operational early next year.
Philippines installing monitoring station in disputed sea
Thitu Island, South China Sea (AFP) Dec 1, 2023 -
The Philippines said Friday it was establishing a coast guard station on the largest island it holds in the disputed South China Sea, to improve monitoring of Chinese vessels asserting Beijing's claims in the waters.
National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano made the announcement during a visit to the Philippine-held Thitu Island, which is part of the hotly contested Spratly Islands.
The coast guard station would be equipped with "advanced systems", including radar, satellite communication, coastal cameras and vessel traffic management, Ano said.
The station has been built and is expected to be operational early next year.
"These systems will greatly enhance the PCG's ability to monitor the movements of the Chinese maritime forces, other countries that might be coming here, and also as well as our own public vessels and aircraft," Ano said, referring to the Philippine Coast Guard.
The collection of real-time data would have "an impact on the behaviour" of rival claimants, especially the Chinese, Ano said, hailing it as a "game changer".
Thitu is about 430 kilometres (267 miles) from the major Philippine island of Palawan and more than 900 kilometres from China's nearest major landmass of Hainan island.
Beijing claims most of the South China Sea, including waters and islands close to the shores of its neighbours, and has ignored an international tribunal decision that its assertion has no legal basis.
It deploys vessels to patrol the waters, and has built artificial islands and military installations to reinforce its stance.
The Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam have also staked claims to various islands and reefs in the sea that is believed to have rich petroleum reserves deep beneath its waters.
Relations between Manila and Beijing have frayed in recent months over a series of incidents in the waters, including two collisions between Philippine and Chinese boats, with the countries trading blame.
On Friday, Ano accused Chinese coast guard and other vessels of engaging in "illegal" and "aggressive" behaviour towards Filipino fishermen and patrol boats.
"It's pure bullying," Ano said.
"We shall not waver, we will stand our ground. We will not be deterred by any power that tries to oppress and outmuscle us."
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