The Philippine Navy has detected a significant increase in Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea, coinciding with the launch of the Balikatan joint military exercises. Over 124 Chinese vessels have been spotted since Monday, a sharp contrast to the average of 60 per week in the previous two months. The presence of Chinese maritime militia vessels has been particularly noticeable in Bajo de Masinloc and Pag-asa. The Balikatan drills, involving over 21,000 troops from the US, the Philippines, Australia, and France, are focused on enhancing interoperability and upholding international law, including freedom of navigation.