China Coast Guard Ship Moved Towards A Head-On Encounter With Christmas Convoy Boat – Captain

It was the threat of being rammed by Chinese ships that prompted the lead vessel in the “Christmas convoy” to change course without completing its voyage to remote island communities in the West Philippine Sea to deliver goodies and essential items.

The convoy cut short its journey on Sunday, Dec. 10, due to “dangerous maneuvers” made by two Chinese navy and one coast guard vessels targeting the mother ship, M/V Kapitan Felix Oca, according to its captain, Jorge dela Cruz, and Akbayan president Rafaela David, one of the convenors of the ATIN ITO coalition that arranged the mission.

Dela Cruz explained that that China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel did not just encircle, but even moved towards a course that would have led to a head-on encounter.

The first Chinese navy destroyer Changsha 173 was first spotted at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday and went as near as five nautical miles.

At around 4:30 or 4:40 p.m. CCG vessel 5305 went as near as 2.5 nautical miles and encircled M/V Kapitan Felix Oca, going as fast as 21 knots, heading towards the same course. At one point, it even crossed the path of the convoy’s Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) escort, BRP Melchora Aquino.

With M/V Kapitan Felix Oca going at 10 knots, and only with a maximum speed of 13 knots, Dela Cruz made a judgment call to turn the ship around and head home, even with the PCG insisting that the convoy could still continue on. “Stay on our portside,” the PCG said.

The PCG tried to convince Dela Cruz to continue, but the captain refused, saying he did not want want to put the lives of his crew and passengers in danger.

There were no radio challenges sent to M/V Kapitan Felix Oca, but with the tensions high, and the sun already setting at that point, it would be doubly dangerous to face more Chinese ships at night time.

Nakalusot!

Volunteers and members of the media expressed disappointment over what happened but as the M/V Kapitan Felix Oca turned back to El Nido, Palawan at least one vessel in the convoy managed to slip past CCG and Chinese militia vessels to reach Lawak Island – one of the convoy’s destinations – to unload supplies and Christmas gifts for residents of the tiny island community on Monday, Dec. 11.

Atin Ito, a coalition dedicated to the cause of fisherfolk frontliners in the West Philippine Sea, said the M/V Chowee arrived on the island at around 5 a.m. on Monday.

The volunteers, who were on board the vessel, were successful in their mission despite reported harassment from Chinese ships.

“Ito ay panalo para sa patuloy na pagtindig sa kung ano ang atin,” Akbayan, a co-convenor of ATIN ITO, said in a Facebook post.

Akbayan also shared photographs showing volunteers dropping donations and supplies with the assistance of frontliners stationed on the island, which China calls Nanshan.