China ships tail convoy, challenge PCG plane
WEST PHILIPPINE SEA—China Coast Guard vessels on Wednesday evening began shadowing a convoy of Filipino civilian boats on their way to the contested area of Scarborough Shoal, also known as Panatag Shoal, a spokesman of the Atin Ito convoy said.
Three clearly marked China Coast Guard vessels sailed within sight of the convoy at dusk and broadcast radio warnings heard aboard one of the Philippine boats as the Atin Ito flotilla moved closer to Panatag Shoal, convoy spokesman Emman Hizon said.
A Philippine Coast Guard aircraft was also issued a radio challenge by one of the Chinese vessels spotted in and around Panatag Shoal, located 124 nautical miles west of Zambales and within the country’s exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea.
Four of the five main commercial fishing boats of the civilian mission, which locals call “Pangulong,” pushed through with the second phase of the trip and aim to reach the shoal today for another round of supply distribution to Filipino fisherfolk in the area.
According to a GMA News team on board the PCG’s Cessna Caravan 2081, at least 18 China Coast Guard and militia vessels and one People’s Liberation Army warship were scattered in the area, a significant increase from the usual deployment of eight vessels.
At one point, a Chinese Navy ship near the area issued warnings to the PCG pilots: “Leave immediately or you will be responsible for all the consequences” and “Philippine aircraft, this is Chinese Navy warship 105. China has undisputed sovereignty over the island.”
“They [China] really want to intimidate the civil society thinking that the more vessels they deploy it will threaten this kind of initiative,” said PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela.
The PCG on Wednesday deployed two additional ships – BRP Panglao and BRP Boracay – to monitor the safety of the civilian mission that was also being monitored by the 44-meter vessel BRP Bagacay.
One of Atin Ito’s five pangulong has already returned to land, along with about 100 small fishing boats after successfully installing orange-colored markers or buoys bearing the message “WPS, Atin Ito!” within the country’s exclusive economic zone yesterday.
“The Atin Ito contingent will now proceed to the second phase of its voyage, aiming to reach the vicinity of Panatag Shoal for another round of supply distribution to Filipino fisherfolk in the area,” the civilian mission said in a statement.
Atin Ito co-convenor and Akbayan president Rafaela David said China’s narrative has “significantly faltered.”
“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,” she said.
“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.
Edicio Dela Torre of the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM) added: “Our mission is a testament to the resilience and rightful assertion of our sovereignty by the Filipino people. This civilian supply mission is not just about delivering supplies, it’s about reaffirming our presence and rights in our own waters. The world is watching, and the narrative of rightful ownership and peaceful assertion is clearly on our side.”
The PCG said Atin Ito coalition’s mission is already a victory for the Philippines as it managed to deliver supplies such as fuel and food packs to Filipino fishermen sailing in the area of Panatag Shoal. With AFP