One of the five main boats of the Atin Ito civilian mission to the West Philippines Sea (WPS) experienced an engine problem on Wednesday, according to organizers.
The Atin Ito coalition said the pangulong boat has been fixed and continues to sail with the civilian mission.
“The pangulong that had an engine problem was already fixed. It is still part of the civilian supply mission. All four pangulongs are committed to proceed to the vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal),” the group saidAtin Ito said another pangulong boat was scheduled to participate only in the first part of the civilian mission and has already returned to land.
Around 100 boats departed from Zambales on Wednesday to participate in the civilian mission, which aims to conduct a “peace and solidarity regatta,” install markers or buoys, and distribute supplies to fisherfolk.
According to Atin Ito, the civilian mission was able to successfully execute its three main objectives.
“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,” Atin Ito said.
Three foreign observers are also part of the civilian mission.
The Atin Ito flotilla proceeded to the disputed waters despite reports of a sizable force of Chinese vessels heading or present to Scarborough Shoal, the other name for Panatag Shoal.
Atin Ito co-convenor and Akbayan president Rafaela David said China’s narrative has “significantly faltered” and is “running a very bad script.”
“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.
Amid the reported presence of Chinese vessels including a warship around Bajo de Masinloc, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said it has sent two more vessels, in addition to the initial deployment of one vessel and one aircraft, to monitor the safety of the civilian mission.
Former US Air Force official and ex-defense attaché Ray Powell said that the deployment of Chinese ships is the “largest blockade” in Scarborough Shoal he has seen so far.
“China is sending a huge force to blockade Scarborough Shoal ahead of the Atin Ito civilian convoy setting sail from the Philippines Tuesday. By this time tomorrow at least four coast guard and 26 large maritime militia ships on blockade (not counting ‘dark’ vessels),” he said on X (formerly Twitter).
“This will be by far the largest blockade I’ll have ever tracked at Scarborough. China seems determined to aggressively enforce its claim over the shoal, of which it seized control from the Philippines in 2012 as summarized by AsiaMTI,” he added.
Scarborough Shoal is a place of ongoing tension between the Philippines and China, as Filipino frontliners have repeatedly been harassed and fishermen driven away by Chinese vessels in the area.
China claims almost the entire South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion in annual ship commerce. Its territorial claims overlap with those of the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei.Manila considers a portion of the South China Sea within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and calls the area the West Philippine Sea.
In 2016, an international arbitration tribunal in the Hague ruled that China’s claims over South China Sea has no legal basis, a decision Beijing does not recognize.—RF, GMA Integrated News
