BBC witnesses Chinese ships blocking Philippines supply boats

 The BBC saw Chinese ships blocking Philippine supply ships en route to an outpost in the South China Sea.

The incident occurred when two Philippine Coast Guard vessels - one aboard the BBC - and two small commercial boats reached Second Thomas Shoal. They were met by a ship called the China Coast Guard, which was five times larger than the merchant ships. The meeting between both sides lasted several hours. Tensions remain high between Manila and Beijing after the Philippine Coast Guard breached Chinese barriers in the disputed waters last month. Manila supplies its second outpost, Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands, every month to strengthen its economic rights to waters rich in fish and mineral resources. Beijing claims almost the entire South China Sea, including the Spratly Islands, some of which are also claimed by the Philippines. “Dangerous maneuvers” in China and the Philippines, cat-and-mouse chase at sea. What is the South China Sea dispute? The accident occurred on Wednesday, the second day of the three-day mission to Second Thomas Bank. The trip took place in rough seas due to the approaching typhoon and the seasonal monsoon. Shortly after dawn, Filipinos were greeted by what appeared to be Chinese coast guards and two blue militia ships with Chinese symbols. Two Philippine Coast Guard ships escorted Philippine merchant ships carrying supplies for about a month. If the two countries&039; The ships rendezvoused, the Chinese ships sent radio calls to the Filipinos asking them to leave. When the Filipino ships refused, the Chinese lined up to block them. Two Filipino merchant ships avoided the blockade due to their small size. This strategy has proven effective in recent months. However, two Philippine Coast Guard ships were too large to pass and at one point came within a few meters of the Chinese ships. They were so close that their crews took photos of each other. A Philippine military aircraft was also seen overhead. The Filipino ships turned back at dusk after confirming that supplies had been delivered and the two merchant ships returned safely to port. The four ships returned to port on Thursday after a several-hour journey north from the capital Manila.