South China Sea: Beijing’s ‘aggression’ during Philippine supply mission terrifies reporters on board

The Philippine flotilla was outnumbered and ‘surrounded by Chinese ships’ during the supply mission, a reporter says

Analysts warn of a possible international crisis involving the US if the South China Sea clashes do not abate

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Chinese Coast Guard vessels water cannoned the civilian supply boat Unaizah May 4 on March 23 during a regular resupply mission at Ayungin Shoal. Photo: Jeoffrey Maitem

Published: 4:30pm, 26 Mar 2024

Before dawn broke in the disputed waters of the South China Sea, a civilian resupply boat escorted by two Philippine coastguard (PCG) patrol vessels was heading towards the Second Thomas Shoal to deliver supplies to Philippine sailors deployed there.

Everything was calm until a Chinese coastguard (CCG) ship backed by a suspected militia vessel, approached and blocked the resupply boat, prompting a Philippine captain to look for a way around them.

Journalists were invited by the Philippine military to observe the resupply mission on Saturday, including several from Japan and Taiwan. They saw what the Philippines has described as repeated harassment of its sailors by the CCG each time the PCG attempted to deliver supplies to personnel stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre – a rusting World War II-era navy ship that was grounded on the shoal to reinforce Manila’s sovereignty claims on the surrounding area.

The incident was the latest in clashes between the Philippines and China in the South China Sea that have increased in frequency under Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr, who has taken a more confrontational stance against Beijing’s attempt to assert control of the waters. Analysts do not expect Beijing to back down and warn of a possible international crisis that could involve the invocation of defence treaties, drawing in other global powers like the US.

Chinese Coast Guard vessels firing water cannons at the civilian supply boat Unaizah May 4. Photo: Jeoffrey Maitem

The embedded reporters captured photos and videos of CCG and militia vessels blocking the resupply mission’s ships, including the PCG’s BRP Sindangan and BRP Cabra, which were escorting the Uniza May 4. The foreign reporters were on board the BRP Sindangan while their Philippine counterparts were observing from the BRP Cabra.

Later, more CCG and militia ships arrived at the shoal, where they prevented the Philippine wooden supply boat from getting closer to the BRP Sierra Madre. The incident proceeded like a cat-and-mouse chase until two CCG vessels fired their water cannons at the Philippine boat, causing severe damage to it and minor injuries to three personnel on board.