PH civilian mission to WPS to push through despite reported 'huge' China force

The civilian mission to the West Philippine Sea (WPS) will proceed as scheduled despite the reported huge force of Chinese vessels heading to Scarborough Shoal, organizers said Monday.

In a statement, Rafaela David, co-convenor of Atin Ito coalition, said they "shall press forward with our peaceful voyage undeterred by any intimidation."

"We will sail with determination, not provocation, to civilianize the region and safeguard our territorial integrity," she added.

David, who is also Akbayan president, reiterated that the "peaceful" civilian mission set from May 14 to 17 is a legitimate exercise of Filipino citizens' rights and Philippine sovereign rights based on international law.

"The reported heavy presence of Chinese marine vessels in Bajo de Masinloc is lamentable, but not surprising. It only underscores the urgency of civilianizing the area in response to China's militarization," David said.

The coalition issued the statement after former US Air Force official and former defense attaché Ray Powell, who is monitoring the situation in the WPS, said China is sending a "huge force" to blockade Scarborough Shoal ahead of the Philippines' civilian mission to the area.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Powell said this will be the "largest blockade" in Scarborough Shoal he has seen. 

"China is sending a huge force to blockade Scarborough Shoal ahead of the Atin Ito civilian convoy setting sail from the Philippines Tuesday. By this time tomorrow at least four coast guard and 26 large maritime militia ships on blockade (not counting 'dark' vessels)," he said. 

"This will be by far the largest blockade I'll have ever tracked at Scarborough. China seems determined to aggressively enforce its claim over the shoal, of which it seized control from the Philippines in 2012 as summarized by AsiaMTI," he added.

Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela said that Powell’s report is a "safe forecast."

"That is a possibility na masabi natin na siguro kung 'yan talaga ang tinutukoy ng AIS-assisted signals ng mga barkong ito, that would be a safe forecast,” he told DObol B TV in an interview.

(Well, that is a possibility that we can say, maybe if that is what the AIS-assisted signals of these ships are really referring to, that would be a safe forecast.)

Tarriela said the PCG will ensure the safety of the participants of the civilian mission amid the presence of Chinese vessels in the area. —Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA Integrated News