China’s Pressure Forces US Ally’s ‘Christmas Convoy’ To Head Home

A “Christmas convoy” comprising hundreds of Philippine volunteers cut short its mission to deliver humanitarian supplies to disputed territories in the South China Sea on Sunday after alleged interference by Chinese forces.

The civilian-led fleet—more than 40 boats—set sail from the island province of Palawan on December 10 with the aim of “exercising our right to travel within our waters to bring Christmas cheer to our front-liners,” one of the organizers told Newsweek at the time, referring to Philippine troops and fishermen working in remote areas.

The coalition dubbed “Atin Ito”—Tagalog for “it’s ours”—had intended to send Beijing a message, “to demonstrate the Philippines’ unwavering commitment to uphold its rights through peaceful, rules-based but resolute means.” But the Chinese government pushed back.

China claims most of the energy-rich sea as its territory via its so-called dashed line. Over the weekend, it sent at least two navy warships and a large cargo vessel to shadow the convoy, while a Chinese coast guard ship deliberately sailed between the lead vessels along the convoy’s planned route—a form of intimidation and harassment, organizers said.

The volunteers vowed to attempt another mission soon, according to organizer Emman Hizon. He told local media: “We will reassess and we will plan again. But this is just a first among many civilian-led supply missions that we will be conducting.”

The group was already planning another convoy, likely for the first quarter of next year, he said.

Atin Ito and the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines didn’t respond to Newsweek‘s separate requests for comment by publication time.

On Sunday, the convoy—led by a Philippine Coast Guard vessel with accompanying armed forces escorts onboard—was en route to Philippine-occupied Lawak Island in the contested Spratly Islands archipelago, which falls within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, or what Manila terms the West Philippine Sea.

Beijing claims Lawak as Nansha Island and dispatched Chinese vessels to intercept the arriving boats. One Chinese government ship made a pass that was too close for comfort, according to Rafaela David, the lead organizer.

“We wanted to see and to assert our claims to the West Philippine Sea because we believe, and it’s clear to the world, that the West Philippine Sea is ours,” she told Philippine news channel ANC on Monday.

Ray Powell, director of Stanford University-affiliated SeaLight project, cited ship-tracking data that appeared to show the China Coast Guard ship cutting through the path of the convoy.

“This may have something to do with the Christmas Convoy deciding to turn back,” he said on X on Sunday.

It was the captain of the convoy’s mothership, the T/S Kapitan Felix Oca, who ultimately called off the mission after deciding it had become unsafe, volunteers said.

However, one ship in the convoy, the M/V Chowee, managed to evade China’s maritime forces and, following a different route, delivered cargo at Lawak Island early on Monday, ANC reported.

The flotilla was packed with members from all walks of Philippine society. Among its more than 200 participants were youths and student activists, fisherfolk, journalists and even priests, who conducted mass on Sunday before the convoy made its way home.

The convoy was not the only group to experience run-ins with China’s maritime patrols over the weekend.

A Philippine Coast Guard mission to transport supplies to a marine outpost on hot spot Second Thomas Shoal was met with resistance from Chinese ships. They fired water cannons and allegedly damaged one Philippine supply ship, which had to be towed back to port.

A minor collision also occurred between one of the Chinese ships and a Philippine supply boat.

A day earlier, in waters near another contentious feature, Scarborough Shoal, Philippine fisheries bureau ships en route to resupply waiting fishermen also were confronted by Chinese coast guard ships, which deployed their water cannons.

The Philippines and the United States, which is treaty-bound to defend Manila from an armed attack, accused Chinese ships of using a sonic weapon against the Philippine ship crews, causing temporarily incapacitation.