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Filmmaker Baby Ruth Villarama and her crew travel on a range of sea craft to document the continuing conflict and its effects between the Philippine nation and China over control of the newly designated West Philippine Sea. This vast area, considered by the international community apart from China as within the Philippines' EEZ, has seen a growing presence by Chinese maritime forces. While some are fishing boats, the majority consist of maritime militia that have engaged in harassing, intentionally hit, and tried to seize Filipino boats in the context of the ongoing standoff.

Portions of the film are undeniably tense, but frequently the conflict takes the form of a war of words of naval posturing. Crews aboard the different ships deliver impassioned speeches over short-wave, laden with legal jargon, practicing a unique long-distance negotiation.

Resupply at the Front Lines

The film's title highlights the critical efforts by the Armed Forces of the Philippines to resupply foodstuffs to tiny outposts in the West Philippine Sea where troops maintain a presence for extended, lonely tours. These outposts are often mere dollops of sand in the shallows, no larger than a football pitch, accessible only by speeding rubber dinghies.

The voyages are clearly frightening for the cargo of baby goats, which are loaded alongside tinned food and other necessities. Viewers see the animals scrambling for a stable position as the craft race across the choppy waves.

Voices from the Shoal

In another segment local fishermen around the inhabited Scarborough Shoal, who lament over reduced harvests caused by the sheer number of trawlers from China in their traditional fishing grounds.

Fascinating Topic, Flawed Presentation

From a technical standpoint, the documentary suffers a bit from a somewhat scattered pacing and a musical score that can feel a bit heavy-handed, overplaying the tense scenes. However, it remains a important look of a critical subject that is rarely covered in Western media.