Over 40 Chinese ships move to block PH civilian mission in Scarborough

Forty-three Chinese vessels, including a warship, moved to Scarborough Shoal to block the Filipino civilian mission, which held fishing activities in the Philippine exclusive economic zone (EEZ) on Thursday.

“China has finally moved the rest of its blockade into position,” former US Air Force official and ex-Defense Attaché Ray Powell said in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday evening.

According to him, there were one People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy ship, eight China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels, and 34 Chinese militia vessels around Scarborough Shoal.

“Combining [Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela’s] report (which includes "dark" ships but not just-arrived reinforcements I'm tracking) is 1 PLA Navy, 8 CCG and 34 militia vessels to intercept the Philippines civilian convoy,” he said.

Breach

Later in the morning, the Atin Ito coalition, which led the civilian mission, reported that they were able to break through the blockade of Chinese vessels.

"Despite China's massive blockade, we managed to breach their illegal blockade, reaching Bajo de Masinloc to support our fishers with essential supplies. Mission accomplished!" Atin Ito co-convenor and Akbayan president Rafaela David said in a statement.

"This stands as a testament to the ingenuity, resourcefulness and bravery of the Filipino spirit amidst formidable challenges," David added.

"China may possess larger and more vessels, and wield strong water cannons, but we possess a secret weapon: our 'diskarteng Pinoy,' which, when coupled with determination and love for fellow citizens and country, can surmount even the most daunting adversity.”

Fishing Activities

Atin Ito said Filipino fishermen and youth volunteers conducted fishing activities in Philippine EEZ on Thursday morning despite the intimidation of Chinese vessels.

“Despite the tension from yesterday's intimidation by two Chinese Coast Guard vessels against Atin Ito's civilian mission, Atin Ito youth volunteers joined Filipino fishermen early this morning for fishing activities within our EEZ,” the organizer said.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) increased its deployment to three vessels and one aircraft to monitor the safety of the participants in the civilian mission.

In a 6 a.m. update, the PCG said CCG vessel 4203 shadowed near two Filipino fishing boats participating in the civilian mission.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wengbin on Wednesday warned the Philippines regarding its activities in the area.

“If the Philippines abuses China’s goodwill and infringes upon China’s territorial sovereignty and jurisdiction, we will defend our rights and take countermeasures in accordance with the law,” he said in a press conference in Beijing.

“Relevant responsibilities and consequences shall be borne solely by the Philippines,” he added.

Dispute

Scarborough Shoal is a place of tension between the Philippines and China, as Filipino frontliners were harassed and fishers were shooed away by China in the area.

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.

To assert Philippines’ rights, Atin Ito organized a civilian mission to the area. Atin Ito held its first civilian mission to WPS with 40 participating boats in 2023.

On Wednesday, Atin Ito started its second civilian mission, which aims to conduct a “peace and solidarity regatta,” install markers or buoys, and distribute supplies to fisherfolk.

According to Atin Ito, the civilian mission was able to successfully execute its three main objectives.

The 100-boat Philippine civilian mission is set to proceed to the second phase of its voyage, aiming to reach the vicinity of Scarborough Shoal for another round of supply distribution to fishers in the area, Atin Ito said. —VAL, GMA Integrated News