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

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.

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.

Edward Stephan Bangubung, a Philippine freelance photographer, said what he witnessed was a life-threatening incident.

“I am excited to cover the resupply mission but I am afraid too,” Bangubung said, noting that while the Philippine supply boat was on the way to its destination, two PCG ships were shadowed by a Chinese Navy ship.

Another journalist covering the mission, Marconi Navales, said that he also saw how China tried “aggressively” to stop Manila’s resupply mission. Navales said he took photographs of a hole on a CCG vessel when it rammed one of the escort ships.

“We were surrounded by Chinese ships in the middle of the ocean. You have to pay attention to which part they are going to hit… from the front or at the back,” Navales said.

“The Philippines was outnumbered. From my end, I was afraid. I saw how the Philippine coastguard and navy tried their best