BEIJING – China has deployed some 100 ships to the South China Sea, theAsia Maritime Transparency Initiative run by the Washington-based Centerfor Strategic and International Studies reports.

The large armada was sent to the Thitu Island, a Philippine-held part of alarge cluster of islands disputed between China, Taiwan, Malaysia,the Philippines and Vietnam, it said.

The fleet, which includes vessels from the navy, coastguard and dozens offishing boats, is part of an effort to stop the Philippine government fromcontinuing construction on the island, it added.

According to the report, the number of deployed ships surged on December25, reaching 95 ships. The number has since dropped, reaching 42 vessels byJanuary.

The Philippine government has been seeking to develop an airway on theisland by building a breaching ramp since 2017.

The project was due to be finished by the end of last year, but officialssay that it has been delayed because of extreme weather.