By Maricar Cinco and Ken Sasaki,
Chinese ships remain an intimidating presence in a Philippine-controlled shoal in the contested Spratly Islands chain where a recent laser-pointing incident has become a new source of tension between the two countries.
During an aerial visit to the area earlier in the week arranged by the Philippine Coast Guard, reporters including from Kyodo News witnessed how the only Philippines' outpost in Ayungin Shoal in Spratly islands was decrepit, in contrast to the teeming number of Chinese Coast Guard vessels that surrounded the shoal.
The rare trip came after a vessel belonging to the Southeast Asian country's coast guard was locked in with a "military-grade laser" from a Chinese coast guard ship in the vicinity of the Ayungin Shoal on Feb. 6.
The incident quickly escalated into a diplomatic row, with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. immediately summoning China's ambassador to the country and protesting Beijing's aggressive activities in the resource-rich South China Sea, where the Spratlys are located.
The Philippines, which has described the Chinese Coast Guard's actions as a "dangerous maneuver," is also changing its tack in dealing with China by drumming up support from other countries.
Following the laser incident, the United States, Australia, and Japan have expressed their concern over Beijing's behavior as well as their support of the 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, which invalidated Beijing's sweeping claims in the South China Sea.
Manila will hereon "expose" China's behavior in the South China Sea, Jay Tarriela, the Philippine Coast Guard's adviser for maritime security, told Kyodo News. He went on to say, "We need the international community to know (what's going on)."
China, Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan all lay claim to the Spratlys, either in part or in whole.
Only last week, after Manila had lodged a diplomatic protest against Beijing, Tarriela told the media of two prior incidents, including one that took place in June when a Chinese ship aimed a laser at a Philippine tugboat. Another occurred in August with a Chinese vessel uncovering a 70-millimeter naval gun as it chased away a Philippine Coast Guard ship near Ayungin.
In 1999, to enforce its claim in the area, the Philippines intentionally grounded a ship on Ayungin Shoal that has since served as its military post in the South China Sea.
The Philippines routinely resupplies its personnel but the ships carrying the supplies have either been blocked or harassed by Chinese vessels over the years.
On Tuesday, the Philippine Coast Guard conducted a maritime air patrol over Sabina and Ayungin shoals, with reporters from Kyodo News and two Philippine news outlets aboard. It was the first time journalists have been allowed to join the routine patrol over Spratly islands since Marcos took office in June.
At least 26 Chinese militia vessels were inside and around Sabina, a shoal where the Philippine authorities have reported a "swarming" of Chinese vessels. Four vessels and a Chinese Coast Guard ship were also seen in the vicinity of Ayungin.
The Chinese Coast Guard ship was about a nautical mile away from the grounded Philippine ship. According to the Philippine Coast Guard personnel, a group of about a dozen Chinese vessels usually stay close together in order to disguise the actual number of ships when viewed from an aircraft.
As the Philippine Coast Guard plane drew closer to Ayungin, journalists received a message on their mobile phones from their telecommunications carrier saying, "Welcome to China!"
Ayungin Shoal is about 40 kilometers from the Mischief Reef, where China has built structures for many years.
The Philippine plane also received radio messages from China telling it to "change its route and leave" as it has become a "security threat to the Chinese islands."
China warned the plane against flying any closer as it was "in the midst of an aviation training" exercise over the reef.
But the Philippine Coast Guard pilots countered over the radio that they were flying within the country's airspace and instead, urged Chinese vessels to leave immediately from the area within the Philippine exclusive economic zone.
Related coverage:
Philippines says China ship aimed "military-grade" laser at its boat
China, Philippines to manage South China Sea differences peacefully
China, Philippines agree to "properly handle" South China Sea issue
