Christmas convoy aborts West Philippine Sea trip

MANILA, Philippines — A convoy of civilian boats planning to deliver provisions to Filipino fishermen and troops in the disputed South China Sea aborted the trip yesterday after “constant shadowing” by Chinese vessels, the organizer said.

The “Christmas convoy,” which departed Palawan early yesterday, was being led by dozens of volunteers on two boats carrying food, water and other donations.

It changed course after a confrontation between Philippine and Chinese vessels earlier in the day.

The Atin Ito group said it was “erring on the side of caution” in consultation with the Philippine Coast Guard and had decided to return to El Nido in Palawan “after the constant shadowing of four Chinese vessels.”

The Chinese vessels included two Navy ships, one coast guard and one cargo ship, the group said in a statement. 

Fishermen in 40 wooden outrigger boats who had joined the convoy would also return to shore, said Emman Hizon of Atin Ito.

“Even going back to El Nido, they are still being shadowed by two Chinese Navy and one Chinese Coast Guard.”

The Philippine Coast Guard escorted the convoy as it travelled through the hotly contested Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, which China claims almost entirely.

The Philippines has outposts on nine reefs and islands in the Spratlys. It was not immediately clear how far the convoy got before turning back.

Atin Ito Coalition said previously the convoy aimed to highlight the living and working conditions of Filipino fishermen and personnel, and to defend the country’s maritime territorial rights.

The convoy had planned to go past Second Thomas Shoal (Ayungin), where a handful of Filipino troops are stationed on a grounded warship, on its way to the Philippine-held Nanshan Island (Lawak) where donations would be left.

A collision and confrontation between Philippine and Chinese vessels near the reef, however, forced organizers to reroute the convoy to head straight towards Nanshan. 

Both countries’ coast guards blamed the other for Sunday’s collision, the latest in an escalating series of such conflicts in the disputed sea. Manila also accused Chinese vessels of firing water cannon at its boats.

Rafaela David, a member of the