Largest force off to Scarborough
The civilian mission to the West Philippine Sea – composed of two ships and around 100 bancas – is determined to proceed as scheduled despite China reportedly preparing its “largest blockade” in Scarborough Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.
“We shall press forward with our peaceful voyage undeterred by any intimidation,” Atin Ito Coalition co-convenor Rafaela David said.
“We will sail with determination, not provocation, to civilianize the region and safeguard our territorial integrity. 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 added.
Ex-US Air Force official and former defense attaché Ray Powell warned China will be sending a “huge force” to Scarborough Shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc, ahead of the civilian mission, which is set to sail from May 14 to 17.
“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),” Powell said on X.
“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,” he added.
Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela said the possibility of a huge blockade is a “safe forecast.”
“That is a possibility that we can say, maybe if that is what the (Automatic Identification System) AIS-assisted signals of these ships are really referring to, that would be a safe forecast,” he said.
The National Security Council, for its part, called on China to allow the Atin Ito Coalition to carry out its “peace and solidarity regatta” to Scarborough Shoal.
NSC Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya made the call after reports said a huge number of Chinese Coast Guard ships and their maritime militia are now gathering at the convoy’s possible routes.
“The only thing we are asking the People’s Republic of China is that they respect that these ships are civilians and not in any way connected to the government. The people aboard them are also civilians and well known personalities in the country. They can check and recheck, and they will know that these are only civilian ships heading toward Bajo De Masinloc,” Malaya said.
The convoy aims to deploy markers and buoys in the vital waterway, aside from giving provisions and fuel to Filipino fisherfolk plying the area.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard said it will ensure China does not carry out illegal reclamation activities at Sabina Shoal or Escoda Shoal, which is 75 nautical miles or around 120 kilometers off the coast of Palawan island.
The coast guard earlier said it had discovered piles of dead and crushed coral dumped on the sandbars of Sabina Shoal, altering its sizes and elevation.
Tarriela said the PCG will do everything to prevent “China from carrying out a successful reclamation in Sabina Shoal.”
The shoal is the rendezvous point for Filipino vessels carrying out resupply missions to the troops stationed on BRP Sierra Madre, a grounded warship of the Philippine Navy at Ayungin Shoal, where Manila and China have had frequent maritime engagements.
