Several Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessels have been spotted in Scarborough Shoal during the first sail of the Philippines' second civilian mission on Wednesday, May 15.
Joining the Atin Ito Coalition in the West Philippine Sea, RH 52 Edniel Parrosa reported that a CCG vessel with number 4109 was spotted on the right side of the civilian convoy.
JUST IN: Barko ng China Coast Guard, naispatan malapit sa #AtinIto convoy. | RH 52 @ednielparrosa, DZRH News pic.twitter.com/Tu8K1aVS8Q
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) May 15, 2024
Parrosa's report stated that there are around 100 nautical miles from China's vessel, which was stationed at Bajo de Masinloc 124 nautical miles west of Zambales Zambales.
In response to this, the Philippine Coast Guard's (PCG) vessel, BRP Bagacay, which is present to guard civilians, placed itself between the CCG and the convoy.
The captain of the PCG reportedly sent radio challenges against the CCG vessel.
Parrosa however, later on, reported that another CCG vessel with number 4108 had been spotted tailing the civilian convoy.
UPDATE: Patuloy na tinatabihan ng dalawang barko ng China Coast Guard ang #AtinIto convoy. | RH 52 @ednielparrosa, DZRH News pic.twitter.com/OQLnTBqbEV
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) May 15, 2024
Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea WPS, meanwhile, said in a post that there are 8 CCG vessels, 10 Chinese Maritime Militia vessels, and 1 People's Liberation Army-Navy warship spotted at Bajo de Masinloc.
Naispatan ang 8 China Coast Guard vessels, 10 Chinese Maritime Militia vessels, at 1 People's Liberation Army-Navy warship habang isinasagawa ang Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) flight kaninang umaga sa Bajo de Masinloc.| DZRH News
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) May 15, 2024
đź“·: @jaytaryela pic.twitter.com/fRIddSh4Gm
Atin Ito's three-day mission was also joined by five commercial fishing vessels and 100 smaller fishing boats.
