- author, Jonathan Head
- role, Southeast Asia correspondent
- Reporter South China Sea
Both of our ships were traveling at high speed and we could see the larger Chinese ship approaching. The Chinese crew members were so close that their faces could be seen. As we were photographing them, two of them photographed us.
The BBC was on board the Philippine Coast Guard vessel BRP Bagacay when it was attacked by a Chinese ship on Tuesday.
The Filipino crew quickly draped yellow foam barriers over the sides in case of a collision. Suddenly, the Chinese ship made a sharp turn across our bow, forcing the Filipino captain to suddenly slow down. The distance between the two ships was less than 5 meters.
We were racing to Scarborough Shoal, a small coral atoll 220 kilometers (137 miles) west of the Philippine coast, also claimed by China.
The Chinese ships were determined to stop us, and there were many of them, at one time as many as ten coast guard and maritime militia.
The Filipino captain said he relied on the Japanese-built boat’s speed and maneuverability to outrun the Chinese and get to within 600 meters of the closest shoal yet.
However, a new seawall recently installed by the Chinese was visible beneath the water. Their ships were right behind us, and two of them took up positions on either side of the Philippine ship, at which point they began firing powerful water cannons.
We were rushed inside. From there, I could hear the sound of rushing water crashing against the metal walls of the ship. They destroyed the stern awning and destroyed the railing on one side.
The second boat in our convoy, carrying supplies for Filipino fishermen, received 10 direct hits from water cannons and was more severely damaged.
This maritime cat-and-mouse game is nothing new in the South China Sea. But such encounters have become more frequent and more severe since President Bongbong Marcos empowered the Coast Guard to counter China’s presence in disputed areas much more forcefully than in the past.
“The Chinese government has always maintained that there are red lines that should not be crossed,” said Brigadier General Jay Tarriera, a coast guard spokesman for the West Philippine Sea (the Philippine name for waters claimed by China).
“They said you can’t go beyond the 12 nautical mile limit from shallow water. But under this administration we’ve already broken that no-crossing line and shown that China has no respect for international law. There is.”
The mission we were working on is part of that stronger response.
The official purpose is to provide food and fuel to Filipino fishermen who have worked the Scarborough Shoal for decades but have complained of constant harassment since the Chinese Coast Guard took control of the Shoal in 2012. there were.
It was also a demonstration of the Philippines’ determination to claim the shoal, which lies within the country’s legally recognized exclusive economic zone and is much closer to the Philippines than to China.
A 2016 international tribunal ruling said key elements of China’s claims in the South China Sea, such as the nine-dash line and many activities in Philippine waters, were illegal. China says it does not recognize this ruling.
The number of Chinese ships visible around the shoals was frightening. We could see them from all directions, and their numbers far exceeded anything the Philippines could deploy.
“We are the David to their Goliath,” Brigadier General Tarriera said.
It is difficult to see where this new policy by President Marcos will lead, but he has strong support from US President Joe Biden and is expanding his military’s long-term modernization plans.
The Chinese ships were clearly tactically skilled, but dangerous. Perhaps they can maintain the lockdown almost indefinitely.
After our encounter with the Philippine vessel, China issued a statement saying it had successfully expelled the Philippine vessel, which it accused of intruding into its territorial waters.
It is true that the BRP Bagakay withdrew from Scarborough Shoal after being hit with water from both sides. The second ship had much of its supplies and electronics damaged, but she was still surrounded by Chinese ships more than 20 kilometers astern, so our ship returned to assist it. .
However, both vessels remained at sea outside China’s “red line” but well within the infamous “nine-dash line,” marking China’s vast territorial claims over almost all of the South China Sea.
By morning dozens of fishing boats had gathered around us seeking assistance. A Chinese Coast Guard ship was watching from a distance. The Philippine Coast Guard believes this mission has been successfully accomplished as what it sees as China’s bullying tactics have once again been exposed.
