The Philippines said two Chinese coast guard ships and two Chinese maritime militia ships were tracking their warship off Mischief Reef in the South China Sea.. It is reported by Bloomberg.

According to Coast Guard spokesman Armand Balilo, the Philippine Navy's USS Andres Bonifacio was on a patrol mission on Feb. 1 when it was spotted and pursued by Chinese ships near a reef in the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone..

He added that the ships of the Chinese naval militia "

Tensions between the Philippines and Beijing have risen recently as China increases its presence in the South China Sea and more ships appear off the West Coast of the Philippines. Chinese ships regularly harass Philippine fishing boats, often intercept them and force them away from disputed areas..

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos said in January that the Philippines would not give up its territorial claims..

The US and the Philippines agreed to resume joint patrols in the South China Sea during a meeting between US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and his Filipino counterpart Carlito Galvez. In 2016, former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte ended joint patrols..

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Earlier it was reported that the Philippines gave the US greater access to its military bases.. This was stated by the heads of the defense departments of the countries amid growing concern due to increased Chinese activity in the South China Sea and tensions around Taiwan.. The United States will gain access to four more facilities under the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).

Beijing says increased US access to Philippine military bases undermines regional stability and heightens tensions.