Briefing aboard a Filipino Coast Guard vessel

Jeff Fellows explore maritime disputes in the Philippines
After a great week in Honolulu, 12 Jefferson Fellows—journalists from throughout the Indo-Pacific region—journeyed to Manila, Philippines to continue their research, study, and reporting tour. 

The Jefferson Fellowship is the flagship journalism program of the East-West Center. 

The highlight of our stay in Manila, in my opinion, was a fascinating visit to a Philippine Coast Guard vessel, the BRP Sindangan, which carries 44 sailors on 2-3 day missions to resupply their forces located throughout the South China Sea. These resupply missions are anything but routine. Since China also claims these waters, Chinese vessels regularly harass Filipino ships by firing water cannons, ramming, and swerving to impede. (See Video 1, Video 2 of these incidents). The captain of the BRP Sindangan visited with the journalists, discussing his ship’s harrowing adventures. He showed video clips of these incidents, the most recent of which just occurred last week. The journalists also got to tour the ship, including the bridge. I was told later this captain is noted for his daring, and his skill, in evading Chinese challengers.

Philippines Coast Guard 
vessel BRP Sindangan

China claims sections of the Philippine and South China Seas, though an international tribunal in 2016 brushed aside these claims, and ruled that the disputed waters belong to the Philippines.

The Jefferson Fellows also visited the online media outlet Rappler, home to Nobel Peace Prize winner and Jefferson Fellow alumnus Maria Ressa. She co-founded Rappler with Glenda Gloria, who spoke to the group about the challenge of running a media outlet during the Duterte presidency, when 12 legal cases were filed against Ressa and Rappler. Gloria said things are better now (they’re down to two legal cases), though far from perfect—going from “hell to purgatory,” she said. Rappler rests on three pillars—journalism, community and civic engagement, and technology, according to Gloria, who noted that the outlet’s “biggest competitors are social media content providers.” Rappler staffer and current Jefferson Fellow Bea Cupin then made a fascinating presentation about the Filipino personalities and politics involved with the maritime disputes with China, and discussed her experience reporting these incidents.

The reporters also met with Philippines Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner. He and four lieutenants answered questions from the Jefferson journalists about deployments in the South China Sea, about the impact of the Trump presidency on U.S. policy towards the Philippines, the transparency initiative which releases videos of Chinese water cannon and laser attacks, and strategies related to dealing with Chinese aggression.

The last day in Manila featured fascinating presentations by Richard Heydarian, an economics and trade analyst, and Antonio Carpio, a former associate justice of the Philippine Supreme Court, who discussed legal remedies to Chinese aggression.

Our stay in Manila also featured a meet-and-greet reception featuring the Jefferson Fellows and Filipino alumni of East-West Center programs. 

The Jefferson Fellows are off to Taipei, Taiwan today for another series of interesting meetings, tours, and reporting opportunities. Stay tuned for details.

At the East West Center alumni reception,
Century Park Hotel, Manila