Symbolic markers within EEZ installed in PH WPS civilian mission

Symbolic markers were successfully placed within the Philippine exclusive economic zone (EEZ) during the civilian mission of the Atin Ito Coalition on Wednesday.

At 11:15 a.m., Atin Ito shared photos and video of the installation of the buoys, emblazoned with the words "WPS ATIN ITO!" or "WPS is ours!" in Filipino.

About half an hour later, the civilian mission organizer said that the main boats were already distributing supplies such as fuel and food packs to Filipino fishers in the area.

“The Atin Ito contingent will now proceed to the second phase of its voyage, aiming to reach the vicinity of Panatag Shoal (Scarborough Shoal) for another round of supply distribution to Filipino fisherfolk in the area,” Atin Ito said in a statement.

"Atin Ito hopes to arrive at the vicinity of Panatag Shoal 6 a.m. tomorrow (Thursday)," it added.

Atin Ito did not divulge their exact location as of posting time due to security reasons. The civilian mission proceeded despite reports of a "huge force" of Chinese vessels heading to Scarborough Shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc and Panatag Shoal.

The convoy of around 100 boats departed from Zambales at around 7:30 a.m.

Atin Ito co-convenor and Akbayan president Rafaela David said the civilian supply mission comprises of five commercial fishing vessels and 100 smaller fishing boats.

Some 200 volunteers, including the crew members, are on board the five commercial vessels, while another 100 fishers are on the smaller boats.

Among the organizations that participated in the civilian mission were:

• New Masinloc Fishermen's Associations
• Subic Commercial Fishing Association Inc.
• Mabayo Agri Aqua Association in Bataan
• Pambansang Katipunan ng Samahan sa Kanayunan (PKSK)
• Pambansang Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka (PAKISAMA)
• Center for Agrarian Reform, Empowerment and Transformation (CARET)
• Akbayan Youth
• Student Council Alliance of the Philippines (SCAP)

China's narrative

In a statement on Wednesday, David said, "China's narrative has significantly faltered. It is running a very bad script. When a superpower deploys a fleet of military vessels to act as a goalkeeper in a shoal it has no authority over, against a group of wooden fishing boats manned by Filipino civilians, it is unmistakably exposed as an aggressor, usurper, and illegal occupant."

"China's actions in the West Philippine Sea reveal not strength, but a glaring weakness. When it resorts to intimidating small, civilian fishing vessels with military might, it showcases a narrative built on fear rather than legitimate authority," she added.

Former US Air Force official and ex-defense attaché Ray Powell said that the deployment of Chinese ships would 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 on X (formerly Twitter).

"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.

Security of civilians

As this developed, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Wednesday deployed two additional ships to monitor the safety of the civilian mission to Scarborough Shoal.

Initially, the PCG deployed the 44-meter vessel BRP Bagacay and an aircraft.

"We are also considering the possibility of deploying additional Philippine Coast Guard vessels ngayong umaga (this morning). So right now, we are still making preparations for the vessels that we are going to deploy," PCG spokesperson for WPS Commodore Jay Tarriela said in a press conference.

PCG spokesperson Rear Admiral Armando Balilo identified the additional ships as BRP Panglao and BRP Boracay.

"On the way na din sila. Last info ko, nasa Subic na (They are also on the way. Based on my last information, they are already in Subic). BRP Panglao and BRP Boracay," he told reporters in a message.

"BRP Boracay is in Subic already. Padating na din si BRP Panglao (BRP Panglao is also on the way). These are 24-meter patrol boats. Fast and with excellent maneuverability," he added.

The PCG said it would ensure the safety of the participants of the civilian mission amid the presence of Chinese vessels in Scarborough Shoal.

"For the PCG, ang mandato natin siguraduhing ligtas ang mga gagamit ng karagatan as a maritime mandate of the Coast Guard. So as far as the Coast Guard is concerned, that is the only thing we are only focusing into na siguraduhing malayang makakapaglayag ang ating mga kasamahan sa Atin Ito Coalition," Tarriela said.

(For the PCG, our mandate is to ensure the safety of those who use the sea as our maritime mandate. So as far as the Coast Guard is concerned, that is the only thing we are only focusing into to make sure that our colleagues in the Atin Ito Coalition can sail freely.)

Civilian mission

Atin Ito held its first civilian mission to WPS with 40 participating boats in 2023.

Scarborough Shoal has been a hotbed of tension between the Philippines and China, as Filipino frontliners were harassed and fishers were shooed away by China in the area during previous incidents.

China claims almost the entire South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion in annual ship commerce. Its territorial claims overlap with those of the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei.

Manila calls parts of the waters within its exclusive economic zone as West Philippine Sea.

In 2016, an international arbitration tribunal in The Hague ruled that China's claims over South China Sea has no legal basis, a decision Beijing does not recognize. — VDV, GMA Integrated News