Maritime Reporting on the Frontlines: Why Bearing Witness Matters in the South China Sea

When you’re gripping a rubber boat in 2-meter waves, racing toward a naval vessel in contested waters, it’s worth asking: what drives a journalist to voluntarily put themselves in this position? For those of us covering defense and geopolitical tensions, the answer lies not in the adrenaline, but in the responsibility to help readers understand what’s really happening.

The Ground Truth of Contested Waters

It was mid-June 2025 when I joined approximately 20 journalists and military communications officers aboard the BRP Andres Bonifacio (PS-17) for a week-long maritime patrol in the West Philippine Sea. The journey began on Pag-asa Island, the largest civilian-administered Philippine outpost in these disputed waters. Naval Special Operations Command personnel had briefed us plainly: expect turbulent seas and potential encounters with China Coast Guard vessels. What I hadn’t anticipated was the visceral difference between reading about these incidents and experiencing them firsthand.

The 20-to-30-minute transit by speedboat to the naval ship tested both physical endurance and resolve. Our naval personnel—colloquially called palaka for their amphibious expertise—skillfully navigated the challenging waters. We proceeded to visit Likas Island days later and, as one might surmise from this account, I returned safely to shore. But that physical experience fundamentally changed how I understand and report on these developments.

Why Immersive Coverage Matters

There’s a critical distinction between consuming information about maritime incidents and comprehending them through direct observation. Reading about China Coast Guard interactions with Philippine vessels conveys facts. Watching their larger ships pass uncomfortably close while making eye contact with their personnel conveys something far more profound about the geopolitical reality in these waters.

My role as a defense and foreign affairs correspondent involves tracking both public statements and behind-the-scenes deliberations that shape how the Philippines manages its maritime interests and international positioning. This includes monitoring the country’s defense modernization efforts, its ASEAN chairmanship responsibilities, its pursuit of a UN Security Council seat, and the ongoing negotiations surrounding the Code of Conduct on the South China Sea. These aren’t merely procedural matters—they define the Philippines’ trajectory and global standing, particularly given concurrent challenges the administration faces domestically.

The Privilege and Burden of Witness Testimony

What I’ve learned through assignments like this maritime patrol is that rigorous reporting requires more than desk research or official statements. It demands placing oneself in situations where abstract policy becomes concrete reality. It means bearing witness to the professionalism and courage of our maritime personnel while simultaneously questioning whether strategic plans are advancing, stalling, or being compromised.

This work carries both weight and privilege—the privilege of understanding the true situation on the ground, the burden of translating that understanding clearly for readers navigating an increasingly complex information landscape filled with noise and competing narratives.

As 2026 approaches, the stakes appear unlikely to diminish. The geopolitical currents affecting the South China Sea show no signs of calming. Quality reporting—the kind that provides clarity, proper context, and uncompromising truth-telling—has never been more necessary. This is why independent journalism deserves your continued support as we document these critical moments for the Philippines and the region.

– Rappler.com