The Philippines successfully completed a critical resupply mission for its troops stationed aboard a vintage World War Two-era ship, but not without a dramatic encounter with Chinese vessels in the South China Sea.
Our correspondent from Reuters was granted access to one of the Philippine Coast Guard vessels responsible for escorting the mission to the Second Thomas Shoal on Friday. What unfolded was a high-stakes cat-and-mouse situation, as Chinese Coast Guard and maritime militia ships attempted to intercept and obstruct the Philippine convoy, claiming that the vessels had entered these waters without their authorization.
Throughout the mission, two Chinese ships repeatedly blocked two Philippine coast guard vessels. On another occasion, a Chinese coast guard vessel, accompanied by three maritime militia vessels, encircled a Philippine ship.
Notably, one of the Chinese vessels dangerously approached the Philippine vessel on which our Reuters reporter was present. Simultaneously, several Chinese militia ships sought to impede its course.
Commanding officer Emmanuel Dangate of the Philippine Coast Guard, when speaking to reporters after the mission, disclosed, “We consistently encounter perilous maneuvers, shadowing activities, and blockades, not only from China’s coast guard vessels but also from their maritime militia vessels.”
