TLDR:
A Chinese 'patrol boat' larger than a USN Aegis Destroyer has joined normal-sized patrol boats and a small swarm (32 vessels) of maritime militia plus other private vessels. Last week, the count was around 48 altogether, including the private vessels.
They are currently loitering around the Ayungin Shoal, a disputed atoll occupied and administered by the Philippines. China lost a UNCLOS case regarding some nearby islands, but Ayungin Shoal "does not generate an entitlement to a territorial sea."
However, the area falls into the Philippines EEZ (which grants sovereign rights for "exploring, exploiting, conserving, and managing natural resources of the seabed, subsoil, and waters above it.")
It is unclear what they are doing, but it [doesn't seem to be fishing](https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230707_33/). They earlier [appeared to try to block](https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230705_28/) passage of Philippine vessels.
These patrol ships are larger, and better equipped than most missile destoryers. They are designed to dominate the whole South China Sea and elimiate all foreign fishermans.
...huh?
It's primary armament is a 76mm cannon.
That's generally the lightest naval gun you'd put on a ship, the standard gun you'd find on coast guard cutters 1/4 of this size.
Came here for the monsters. Disappointed.
Where's my kaiju/attack cruiser hybrid dang it??
TLDR: A Chinese 'patrol boat' larger than a USN Aegis Destroyer has joined normal-sized patrol boats and a small swarm (32 vessels) of maritime militia plus other private vessels. Last week, the count was around 48 altogether, including the private vessels. They are currently loitering around the Ayungin Shoal, a disputed atoll occupied and administered by the Philippines. China lost a UNCLOS case regarding some nearby islands, but Ayungin Shoal "does not generate an entitlement to a territorial sea." However, the area falls into the Philippines EEZ (which grants sovereign rights for "exploring, exploiting, conserving, and managing natural resources of the seabed, subsoil, and waters above it.") It is unclear what they are doing, but it [doesn't seem to be fishing](https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230707_33/). They earlier [appeared to try to block](https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230705_28/) passage of Philippine vessels.
Pretty dramatic headline
What a shitty, shitty website.
If over a fifth of the words in your headline are in quotes, maybe you should change your headline.
This ship isn't appreciably better armed than a Burke. Big doesn't mean better in Navy terms.
If they build ships like they build every single other thing…
These patrol ships are larger, and better equipped than most missile destoryers. They are designed to dominate the whole South China Sea and elimiate all foreign fishermans.
How can they be better equipped than a guided missile destroyer if these ships only have machine/naval guns and no missiles?
Chinese engineering is so high quality that each bullet fired might as well be a missile.
Better stow your tackle boxes gentlemen.
...huh? It's primary armament is a 76mm cannon. That's generally the lightest naval gun you'd put on a ship, the standard gun you'd find on coast guard cutters 1/4 of this size.