Automatic Identification System (AIS) data suggests that a Philippine government vessel was again denied access to Second Thomas Shoal by the China Coast Guard (CCG) in late June, underscoring the vulnerability of the grounded BRP Sierra Madre, which serves as a Philippine outpost on the reef.
The Philippines’ M/V DA BFAR, a 60-meter research vessel operated by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, left Puerto Princesa on June 25 heading for Second Thomas Shoal.
As it approached within 12 nautical miles southeast of the shoal at 11:00 PM UTC on June 26, the CCG 5304 came south from its post at the northern edge of the shoal to greet it.
The two met an hour later around 00:00 UTC on June 27, 4 nautical miles east of the shoal and 8 nautical miles southeast of the BRP Sierra Madre. The DA BFAR altered course and headed east as the CCG 5304 tailed it at an initial distance of just 200 meters. The CCG 5304 then followed the Philippine ship at a distance of 500 meters for another hour until the two parted ways 14 nautical miles east of Second Thomas. The DA BFAR continued eastward and returned to Puerto Princesa, while the 5304 headed back to the northern end of the shoal.
Without mentioning the incident, then-defense secretary Delfin Lorenzana told Philippine media the following day that the Philippines would not stop resupplying the Sierra Madre despite Chinese objections. He also said China doesn’t want the Philippines to repair the Sierra Madre such that it could stay there permanently, though it is unclear whether the DA BFAR had been attempting to deliver building materials in addition to normal supplies for the garrison. An earlier resupply mission on June 21 was attended by Philippine journalists from the Inquirer, who reported that the China Coast Guard allowed supply ships to approach the BRP Sierra Madre on the condition that no construction supplies were being delivered.
Originally Published May 26, 2022:
Three Rounds of Coercion in Philippine Waters
In three separate incidents over the last two months, Chinese law enforcement vessels have challenged marine research and hydrocarbon exploration activities within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea.
Round One: China Squares off with Taiwan, Philippines over Marine Research
The Legend, a research vessel belonging to the Taiwan Ocean Research Institute under the Ministry of Science and Technology, set off from Taiwan on March 13 sailing toward the Philippines. The Legend’s schedule shows that it was booked to conduct research in the Philippines as part of Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy, an initiative of President Tsai Ing-wen to enhance relations with South and Southeast Asian countries. According to the Associated Press, the research trip was part of a joint project of the National Institute of Geological Sciences at the University of the Philippines and National Central University in Taiwan that aims to map geologic features that could trigger earthquakes, tsunamis, and other potentially catastrophic phenomena.
On March 15, Automatic Identification System (AIS) data from Marine Traffic shows the Legend began to conduct hydrographic surveys along a 50-nautical-mile wide grid to the northwest of the Philippines’ Babuyan Islands. On March 23, as the Legend continued research 60 nautical miles northwest of Luzon, the China Coast Guard (CCG) 5203 left Mischief Reef in the Spratly islands. It began shadowing the Legend at a distance of 2-3 nautical miles the next day. Taipei responded on March 25 by dispatching its own Coast Guard (CG) 5001 Chiayi, a 125-meter heavy patrol vessel, from Taiwan-occupied Pratas Island. The CG 5001 maneuvered to keep the CCG 5203 away from the Legend for the next two days, with the opposing coast guard vessels in some instances coming within 1000 meters of each other.
The CCG 5203, CG 5001, and Legend on March 26
On March 27, the 60-meter CG 117 Taichung relieved the CG 5001, staying until March 30 when it was itself relieved by the 120-meter CG 129 Kaohsiung. On April 1, AIS data shows the Legend moved closer to the Philippine coast and the CCG 5203 left, heading for disputed Scarborough Shoal where China maintains a constant coast guard presence. On April 6 the Legend again moved farther offshore, operating 70 nautical miles west of Luzon. This time it was accompanied by a Philippine Coast Guard patrol vessel, the 45-meter BRP Capones. The CCG 5203 returned that same night to again shadow the Legend with the Capones providing protection.
AIS tracks of the Legend, BRP Capones, and CCG 5203 on April 7
Late on April 7, the Capones returned to port in San Fernando, Philippines, while the CCG 5203 continued tailing the Legend. The game of cat and mouse ended on April 9 when the Legend returned to Taiwan.
Round 2: The Geo Coral and the End of Philippine Exploration
Further south along the Philippine coast, another situation was developing. Events this time centered around the Geo Coral, a survey ship owned by Norwegian seismic exploration company Shearwater GeoServices. AIS data shows the Geo Coral arrived in Block SC 75, just 60 nautical miles off the Philippine coast west of Palawan, on April 4 where it met up with supply ship Mariska G.
As reported by maritime observer Duan Dang, the Philippines’ PXP Energy in February announced plans to conduct 3D seismic surveys in SC 75. It also planned to drill two appraisal wells in SC 72 in Reed Bank, an underwater feature claimed by China but which a 2016 arbitral ruling determined is part of the Philippines’ continental shelf. As soon as the Geo Coral and Mariska G arrived in SC 75, they picked up a tail: CCG 4201.
AIS tracks of Geo Coral and its supply ship Mariska G tailed by the CCG 4201
The 4201 closely followed the two vessels for the next two days until, on April 6, the Philippines’ Department of Energy ordered PXP Energy to “put on hold all exploration activities for SC 75 and SC 72 until such time that the SJPCC [Security, Justice and Peace Coordinating Cluster, part of the president’s Cabinet] has issued the necessary clearance to proceed.” The Geo Coral and Mariska G abruptly left SC-75, spending the next four days surveying closer to shore in block SC 54 before leaving Philippine waters en route to their next contract in South Korea.
Round 3: Philippine Vessels Met by CCG, Militia at Second Thomas
A few weeks later, Chinese law enforcement and militia ships again interfered with Philippine research activity, this time conducted by the M/V DA BFAR, a 60-meter research vessel operated by the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
DA BFAR sailed from Palawan on April 20 heading for Second Thomas Shoal. That underwater feature is occupied by the Philippines and was ruled part of the Philippine EEZ and continental shelf in 2016. As it approached the shoal on April 21, the DA BFAR drew the attention of the CCG 5304. AIS data indicates that the 5304 pursued the DA BFAR at extremely close distances, coming as close as 100 meters in multiple instances.
AIS tracks of the DA BFAR and CCG 5304 maneuvering at close range on April 21
As the CCG 5304 pursued, the CCG 5303 and two Hainan-based militia vessels, the Qiong Sansha Yu 00401 and Qiong Sansha Yu 00105, closed in from the north. Under pressure, the DA BFAR turned around 12.7 nautical miles from Second Thomas Shoal. It retreated 13 nautical miles east before heading north toward Philippine-occupied Nanshan Island, tailed by the CCG 5304.
Meanwhile, a 44.5-meter Parola-class patrol vessel of the Philippine Coast Guard, the BRP Cape Engaño, approached Second Thomas from the east, having left Palawan earlier that day. It was marked by the CCG 5303 and Qiong Sansha Yu 00105, which each shadowed it at distances of approximately 1 nautical mile as it headed toward Second Thomas. The three vessels stopped approximately 6 nautical miles east of the shoal and three more militia vessels began steaming up from the south: the Qiong Sansha Yu 00009, 00101, and 00110.
AIS tracks of the BRP Cape Engaño surrounded by Chinese coastguard and militia, April 21
The newcomers passed less than a mile to the east of the Philippine Coast Guard ship before taking up a position at the north end of Second Thomas. The vessels all maintained their positions for several hours before the Cape Engaño turned back eastward, encouraged by the approaching 5303, which tailed it until it left the area heading northwest toward unoccupied Whitsun Reef.
An Uncertain Future
All three incidents demonstrate Beijing’s determination to control maritime activity within the nine-dash line, and to create a high risk of collisions at sea to do so. In one instance, its tactics clearly succeeded, convincing the Philippines to backpedal on an October 2020 decision to lift a nearly decade-old moratorium on oil and gas exploration in areas of its continental shelf that fall within the nine-dash line. This follows a complete lack of progress on joint exploration despite a 2018 memorandum of understanding with Beijing, making it unclear whether the Philippines will ever be able to access its hydrocarbon resources at Reed Bank.
On other fronts, Philippine law enforcement, navy, and marine science actors have been stepping up their activities in the South China Sea despite an increasingly assertive China. But with a new administration taking power at the end of June, it remains to be seen how forcefully the Philippines will continue to assert those rights.
