ABOARD BRP CABRA. Amid the presence of a United States Navy aircraft circling overhead, two Philippine boats managed to breach a Chinese coast guard blockade in a risky encounter on Tuesday in the disputed South China Sea. Their mission was to deliver food and essential supplies to Filipino forces stationed at a disputed shoal.
However, the two Philippine coast guard vessels that were escorting the supply boats faced obstruction from at least four Chinese coast guard ships, resulting in a tense five-hour standoff near Second Thomas Shoal.
This perilous incident is the latest episode arising from the long-standing territorial disputes in the busy sea, involving China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Brunei. The area is seen as a potential flashpoint in Asia and has become a sensitive focal point in the broader U.S.-China rivalry.
The Philippine coast guard extended an invitation to a select group of journalists, including two from The Associated Press, to accompany their ships in securing the supply boats. This move was part of a new strategy designed to highlight China’s increasingly aggressive actions in the South China Sea, an area Beijing claims almost entirely.
A Chinese coast guard ship approached as close as 46 meters (50 yards), crossing the path of BRP Cabra to obstruct the Philippine coast guard ship. The latter vessel quickly maneuvered to avoid a collision, as recounted by an unnamed coast guard officer onboard the Cabra due to official policy.
During the standoff, the Cabra and another coast guard ship, the BRP Sindangan, found themselves surrounded by four Chinese coast guard ships and four suspected militia vessels. This compelled them to halt while the remaining two Philippine boats completed the delivery of supplies to the Filipino forces stationed more than 7 kilometers (4 miles) away at Second Thomas Shoal.
Following the successful supply delivery and the replacement of Filipino sailors, all Philippine vessels departed without further incidents from the military outpost established on a stranded Philippine navy ship at the shoal.
“We’re happy that the resupply mission succeeded despite all the dangerous blockings and other actions,” shared Cmdr. Emmanuel Dangate of the Cabra with AP.
Coast Guard spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela denounced the Chinese coast guard blockade and other risky maneuvers as violations of international regulations aimed at preventing maritime collisions. He mentioned that the coast guard would submit a report to the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila, which could potentially lead to a diplomatic protest against China.
The hostilities began on Monday night when a Chinese coast guard ship began trailing the Philippine vessels. On Tuesday morning, both sides asserted their territorial rights through a series of radio exchanges. A man identifying himself as part of the Chinese coast guard ships warned at one point, “To avoid miscalculation, leave and keep out, otherwise, you will bear full responsibility for all the consequences.”
In response to the lack of retreat from the Philippine ships, the Chinese radio caller cautioned that due to the continued “infringement and provocation, we will take countermeasures.”
Chinese coast guard ships repeatedly maneuvered closely past the two Philippine coast guard vessels, with up to three later positioning themselves in front of the Cabra, which remained stationary. The Chinese ships also approached dangerously near the wooden-hulled supply boats. Nevertheless, the smaller vessels managed to navigate through the shallows toward the shoal.
Chinese officials at the embassy in Manila did not provide immediate comments on the incident. The reason behind the deployment of the U.S. Navy surveillance plane, which circled for over three hours while the Chinese ships obstructed and trailed the Philippine vessels near Second Thomas Shoal, remained unclear. When questioned about the deployment of the Navy plane, U.S. Embassy spokesperson Kanishka Gangopadhyay in Manila stated that he could not disclose specifics. He affirmed, “All of our military activities in the Philippines are conducted in full coordination with our Philippine allies.”
Filipino security officials revealed that they have previously received intelligence information and surveillance images from their American and other foreign counterparts, as part of security cooperation, related to the disputed waters.
While the United States does not claim the South China Sea as its territory, it has emphasized the importance of freedom of navigation and flight, along with the peaceful resolution of disputes, for its national interest.
Following an incident on August 5, when a Chinese coast guard ship employed a water cannon against a Philippine supply boat, Washington reiterated its commitment to defend its long-standing treaty ally if Filipino forces, aircraft, and vessels face an armed attack, including in the South China Sea.
AP contributed to this story.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
