Civilians from the Philippines have set sail toward Scarborough Shoal in the disputed South China Sea to support Manila’s territorial claims. All the while, the Chinese Coast Guard looked on.
About 100 civilians including journalists departed Wednesday on four boats. The crew packed food and fuel for Philippine fishing boats operating nearby.
The Philippine Coast Guard also came along. Officials say they spotted 19 Chinese vessels near the shoal.
The organizers of the mission say they still successfully delivered their supplies to the fishing boats.
Beijing took control of the area in 2012 following a standoff between the navies of the two countries, and is now growing increasingly assertive in the South China Sea.
An incident near Scarborough Shoal in April saw the Chinese coast guard fire water cannons at two boats from the Philippines.