Atin Ito Christmas convoy
Part of Territorial disputes in the South China Sea
DateDecember 10, 2023
Location
Spratly Islands, South China Sea
Caused by
  • Philippine sovereignty claims to parts of the South China Sea
  • China's implementation of its sovereignty claim over the whole sea
Goals
Resulted in
Parties

 Philippines
Lead figures

Philippines Rafaela David
Philippines Jorge Dela Cruz

Number

40 marine vessels

  • M/V Kapitan Felix Oca
  • 40 boats

1 ship

3 ships

The Atin Ito Christmas convoy is a civilian-led mission to deliver donated goods to Filipino troops stationed in the Spratly Islands, a feature claimed by several countries including the Philippines and China. The Atin Ito Coalition is an organization which supports the Philippines' sovereignty claims in the South China Sea.

Background

West Philippine Sea – Atin Ito (transl. West Philippines Sea – It is Ours) is a civilian-led initiative to launch expeditions in support of the Philippines' claim in the South China Sea dispute. It is also in opposition to the People's Republic of China's assertions of its own territorial claim over the sea.[1][2][3]

Its name bears the designation West Philippine Sea, a name introduced by the Philippine government to refer to parts of the South China Sea covering waters and islands claimed by the Philippines including the Spratly Islands and Scarborough Shoal.

Christmas convoy

Planning

The Atin Ito coalition planned on holding a convoy of marine vessels to deliver donated supplies to Filipino troops stationed at the grounded BRP Sierra Madre at Second Thomas Shoal.[4]

The National Security Council (NSC) has cautioned against the plan saying the organization could visit other Philippine occupied features in the Spratlys. It also suggest turning over donations to the Philippine Navy and Philippine Coast Guard instead.[4][5] The coalition insist that it would push through with their plan despite the discouragement.[6] The NSC would eventually approve the convoy on the condition that its vessels would only pass through the general area near Second Thomas Shoal.[7][8] The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea also approved of the plan.[9]

The final plan is for the convoy to sail near Second Thomas Shoal and Nanshan and Flat Islands.[10] The convoy was to consist 40 boats with a "mother vessel" which could accommodate 100 people.[8]

Mission

M/V Kapitan Felix Oca, the lead ship of the Christmas convoy with 40 volunteers departed from Manila for El Nido, Palawan on December 8, 2023. [11] Carrying humanitarian supplies meant for Filipinos in the Spratlys Islands, the ship arrived in El Nido the following day.[12]

The Christmas convoy, officially commenced in the early morning of December 10. The marine vessels departed from El Nido's San Fernando Port. The convoy had a total of 200 people which includes 100 fishers, 20 youth and student leaders, 20 sectoral representatives as well as 60 journalists working for domestic and international media outlets.[13] The Philippine Coast Guard's BRP Melchora Aquino served as ecort.[14]

The plan for the Christmas convoy was revised due to a separate incident during the morning between Filipino and Chinese ships involving the Second Thomas Shoal.[15] This cancelled the Atin To's plan to sail near the shoal.[16] China later laid blame on the Philippines for the encounter.[17][18]

In the afternoon, Kapitan Felix was heading towards Nanshan Island when it decided to go back to El Nido. A mass was being held by its passengers when two People’s Liberation Army Navy ships including Chinese destroyer Changsha (173) and Chinese Coast Guard vessel 5305 appeared nearby.[19][14]

ML Chowee, a smaller vessel part of the convoy, sailed a different route from Kapitan Felix. Evading bigger Chinese vessels, it was able to deliver supplies to Filipino troops in Nanshan Island in the morning.[15]

Reception

Bishop Broderick Pabillo of the Apostolic Vicariate of Taytay in Palawan expressed support for the conduct of the Christmas convoy.[20]

Aftermath

The Atin Ito Coalition vowed to organize future resupply missions with the next one projected to be held in early 2024.[21][22]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Bolledo, Jairo (December 9, 2023). "What you need to know: Atin Ito's Christmas convoy to West PH Sea". Rappler. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  2. ↑ Brown, Faith (December 10, 2023). "Christmas convoy in West Philippine Sea diverted". The Philippine Star. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  3. ↑ Laqui, Ian (December 8, 2023). "Civilian-led Christmas convoy sails to West Philippine Sea". The Philippines Star. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  4. 1 2 "Philippine security body warns vs civilian convoy to Second Thomas Shoal". BusinessWorld. November 21, 2023. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  5. ↑ Ratcliffe, Rebecca (November 21, 2023). "Christmas convoy to cheer up Filipino troops on disputed shoal 'ill advised'". The Guardian. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  6. ↑ Manahan, Jervis (November 20, 2023). "Group to pursue Christmas convoy to Ayungin shunned by security council". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  7. ↑ Mangosing, Frances (November 28, 2023). "Gov't gives go-ahead to Christmas convoy to WPS". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  8. 1 2 Punongbayan, Michael (November 30, 2023). "40 boats to join Christmas convoy to Ayungin Shoal". The Philippine Star. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  9. ↑ Puente, Beatrice (December 8, 2023). "Civilian convoy departs for 'meaningful journey' to West Philippine Sea". News 5. TV5. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  10. ↑ Mangosing, Frances (December 12, 2023). "Smaller boat in 'Atin Ito' convoy completes mission to Lawak". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  11. ↑ Mendoza, John Eric (December 8, 2023). "First batch of Christmas convoy sets sail to West Philippine Sea". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  12. ↑ Gonzalez, Mia (December 9, 2023). "LOOK: West PH Sea Christmas convoy volunteers arrive in Palawan". Rappler. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  13. ↑ Daguno-Bersamina, Kristine (December 10, 2023). "Christmas convoy sets sail for historic mission in West Philippine Sea". The Philippine Star. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  14. 1 2 Ho, Gretchen; Tupas, Emmanuel; Punongbayan, Michael. "China Coast Guard Ship Moved Towards A Head-On Encounter With Christmas Convoy Boat – Captain". One News. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  15. 1 2 "Christmas convoy: Smaller boat avoids Chinese ships' harassment, accomplishes mission". Cebu Daily News. Philippine Daily Inquirer. December 12, 2023. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  16. ↑ Mangosing, Frances (December 12, 2023). "Smaller boat in 'Atin Ito' convoy completes mission to Lawak". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  17. ↑ Zhao, Lei (December 12, 2023). "Philippines' provocative acts slammed". China Daily. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  18. ↑ Mao, Ning (December 11, 2023). "Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning's Regular Press Conference on December 11, 2023". Foreign Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Iceland. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  19. ↑ Ticke, Gerald (December 11, 2023). "Christmas convoy turns around, returns to El Nido". Palawan News. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  20. ↑ Hermoso, Christina (December 7, 2023). "Bishop Pabillo supports Christmas caravan to Ayungin Shoal". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  21. ↑ "Coalition vows 2nd attempt after aborted Spratlys gift-giving mission". Philippine News Agency. December 11, 2023. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  22. ↑ Mendoza, John Eric (December 12, 2023). "West PH Sea Christmas convoy planners eye 2024 'summer mission'". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
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