Inside the Philippines’ dangerous mission in the South China Sea

As sailors scrambled to unload provisions from two small boats for troops on a grounded ship in the South China Sea, a US Navy aircraft flew overhead while three Japanese-built Philippine coast guard vessels kept watch.
They in turn were monitored by a flotilla of Chinese coast guard ships and other vessels that had spent the past few hours trying to obstruct the Philippine vessels from reaching their destination, including firing a water cannon.

The scene was the climax of the latest mission to resupply the BRP Sierra Madre, a decaying World War II-era vessel that Manila intentionally grounded on Second Thomas Shoal in 1999 in response to China’s occupation of Mischief Reef four years earlier. It’s the Philippines’ sole outpost in the shoal designed to establish its sovereignty in the fishing-rich waters.
The successful Nov. 10 mission was a display of the trilateral partnership between the Philippines, the US and Japan that is challenging Beijing’s efforts to control the disputed area. With Washington renewing its security guarantees for Manila, this remote reef has become a key flashpoint for US-China competition in the region, potentially rivaling the long-running friction over Taiwan.

The Philippine convoy last week hosted reporters from local and international media, including Bloomberg News, as part of Manila’s efforts to publicize China’s tactics. The mission came just days before US President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping are scheduled to meet in San Francisco in an effort to mend ties. Earlier this month, the US and China held their first talks focused solely on maritime issues since September 2019.

Over the years, Philippine officials have become increasingly worried about the degradation of the Sierra Madre. Rust and the elements have left gaping holes in the hull and could render the vessel uninhabitable if left unattended. China has steadfastly opposed the Philippines’ efforts to repair the Sierra Madre and has repeatedly urged Manila to tow it away.
“The deterioration is faster than the supply that we do,” Philippine Defense Senior Undersecretary Ireneo Espino said in September.
In the latest operation, the Philippines said it detected a