Christmas convoy boat arrives at Lawak Island amid presence of Chinese vessels

One of the boats that were part of a "Christmas convoy" to the West Philippine Sea was able to slip pass through Chinese vessels and arrived at Lawak Island early Monday morning, the coalition that organized the mission said.

“ATIN ITO's supply boat slipped pass through Chinese marine vessels arriving at Lawak Island on 11,” ATIN ITO Coalition said in a statement.

“December, 5:00 am. Nakalusot! They are now in the process of dropping off donations and supplies with the help of frontliners stationed in the area,” it added.

National Task Force on West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) spokesperson Jonathan Malaya confirmed to GMA News Online that one of the Christmas convoy boats made it to Lawak Island.

“Yes. Nakalusot yung isang supply ship nila to Lawak Island (One of their ships was able to slip into Lawak Island),” he said in a message.

ATIN ITO initially aborted their mission after Chinese vessels circled them on Sunday. The convoy was supposed to reach Lawak Islands — part of the Philippine territory — on Monday to deliver Christmas gifts to soldiers patrolling the area. 

This was also following reports that Chinese vessels rammed and water cannoned Philippine vessels that were on a resupply mission to BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.

The NTF-WPS over the weekend reported the harassment and dangerous maneuvers by the China Coast Guard (CCG) and the Chinese Maritime Militia (CMM) on the resupply mission.

According to the task force, a CCG vessel "deployed a water cannon against the Philippine supply vessels causing severe damage to M/L Kalayaan’s engines, disabling the vessel and seriously endangering the lives of its crew."

Philippine vessel Unaizah Mae 1 (UM1) was also reported to have been subjected to "reckless and dangerous harassment at close range," and rammed by a CCG during the incident, it added.

The NTF-WPS condemned what it described as the latest in "unprovoked acts of coercion and dangerous maneuvers," which it said "puts into question and significant doubt the sincerity of its calls for peaceful dialogue."

Several countries — led by the United States, Australia, Japan, and Canada — earlier expressed support for Manila and criticized China's actions in the string of several reported incidents of harassment against Philippine vessels this year.

The harassment incidents come nearly a decade after the Philippines in 2013 challenged China over its claims on the West Philippine Sea, where Manila scored a victory and a landmark ruling by an international tribunal which invalidated Beijing's claims.

China has refused to acknowledge the ruling, with a number of its vessels spotted in the vicinity of Iroquois Reef and Sabina Shoal in the Philippine territory, as earlier reported by the Philippine military. —KBK, GMA Integrated News