The “Atin Ito” coalition breached China’s imposing blockade around Scarborough Shoal on Thursday, successfully delivering crucial provisions such as food and fuel to Filipino fishers in the area.
The civilian mission’s 10-member advance team arrived within 25 to 30 nautical miles of the general vicinity of Scarborough Shoal, also called Panatag Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc.
The group was able to distribute 1,000 liters of diesel and 200 food packs, despite a Chinese Navy ship with body number 175 constantly shadowing the Filipino vessels.
“Despite China’s massive blockade, we managed to breach their illegal blockade, reaching Bajo de Masinloc to support our fishers with essential supplies. Mission accomplished!” said Atin Ito co-convenor Rafaela David.
“China may possess larger and more vessels, and wield strong water cannons, but we possess a secret weapon: Our ‘diskarteng Pinoy,’ which, when coupled with determination and love for fellow citizens and country, can surmount even the most daunting adversity,” she added.
Ex-US Air Force official and former defense attaché Ray Powell earlier posted on X that China moved the rest of its blockade – which included one People’s Liberation Army Navy ship, eight China Coast Guard vessels, and 34 militia crafts – into position to prevent the Atin Ito convoy from reaching Scarborough Shoal.
The Atin Ito convoy headed back to port Thursday, ditching plans to reach the Beijing-held reef, along with its Philippine Coast Guard vessel escort.
“They will now proceed to the Subic fish port to mark the end of their successful mission…The Atin Ito contingent is expected to arrive at the Subic Fish Port 12 midnight on May 17,” the group said in a statement.
In Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin on Wednesday evening cautioned the Philippines not to abuse its goodwill gesture to allow Filipinos to fish with small boats in designated waters in the West Philippine Sea.
“If the Philippines abuses China’s goodwill and infringes upon China’s territorial sovereignty and jurisdiction, we will defend our rights and take countermeasures in accordance with the law,” he said.
Beijing has been insisting the West Philippine Sea, including Scarborough Shoal, is part of its territory, a position that Wang said was “indisputable.”
For his part, Senate Defense committee chairperson Jinggoy Estrada lauded the Atin Ito coalition for successfully placing symbolic buoys within the country’s exclusive economic zone despite China possessing larger vessels and wielding strong water cannons.
“Their actions exemplify the best of the Filipino spirit and serve as an inspiration to all,” Estrada said.
“Let us affirm our unwavering support for the Atin Ito Coalition and its noble mission. Their courage and compassion embody the true essence of bayanihan and their actions mirror best what it means to be Filipino,” the senator added.
The fish-rich Scarborough Shoal has been a potential flashpoint since Beijing seized it from Manila in 2012.
It is about 240 kilometers west of Luzon and nearly 900 kilometres from Hainan, the nearest major Chinese land mass. With AFP