A Philippine government mission to Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea on Monday was met by a “very heavy” concentration of Chinese vessels, a West Philippine Sea monitoring group reported.
“The Philippines is carrying out an apparent ‘Kadiwa’ mission near Scarborough Shoal today,” said SeaLight director Ray Powell in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Powell said the mission consisted of the government-owned fish carrier M/V Mamalakaya, escorted by the Philippine Coast Guard’s BRP Teresa Magbanua and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources’ BRP Datu Romapanet.
He reported that the convoy “is encountering a very heavy flotilla of People’s Republic of China vessels,” apparently deployed to enforce a 25- to 30-nautical-mile exclusion zone around Scarborough Shoal.
There are “at least” seven China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels and 14 maritime militia ships—with automatic identification systems turned on—within the vicinity of the shoal, according to Powell.
The maritime version of the “Kadiwa” program was launched last May.
The MV Mamalakaya, which was deployed for this task, made its maiden voyage near the shoal in May to engage with Filipino fishermen, purchasing their catch and offering fuel subsidies, Commodore Jay Tarriela, the PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, earlier said.
On Monday, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said the Philippines will not retreat in asserting its rights in the West Philippine Sea, following reports that two BFAR vessels were water-cannoned by Chinese vessels in Bajo de Masinloc.
“We have never instructed our vessels to back out. I don’t know about other places, pero dito sa gobyernong ito hindi tayo umaatras sa laban. We know Filipinos are brave,” the President said.
The CCG’s so-called “exclusion zone enforcement” directly defies the 2016 arbitral ruling, which recognized Scarborough Shoal as a traditional fishing ground shared by the Philippines, China, and Vietnam.
Local authorities said at least two CCG vessels have remained stationed near the lagoon at all times, blocking Philippine Coast Guard ships and Filipino fishermen from approaching.
However, during rough weather, Chinese vessels have been observed leaving the shoal’s vicinity.