Supply Lines in the Sea: A Review of Food Delivery – An Intense Journey Through Supply Lines in the China Standoff.
Filmmaker Baby Ruth Villarama and the documentary team embark on a diverse assortment of sea craft to document the ongoing strife and its effects between the Philippines and China over sovereignty of the recently named West Philippine Sea. This maritime region, viewed by nearly everyone outside of China as part of the Philippines' maritime territory, has seen a growing presence by boats from China. Among them are fishing boats, many are China's coast guard vessels that have reportedly harassed, rammed, and tried to seize Filipino boats in the context of the broader sovereignty dispute.
Portions of the film are incredibly gripping, yet mostly the conflict takes the form of a diplomatic dance of naval posturing. Officers from the different ships deliver impassioned speeches over short-wave, filled with technical legalese, creating a form of radio diplomacy.
Sustaining the Outposts
The documentary's name points to the vital operation by the Filipino military to resupply foodstuffs to isolated garrisons in the West Philippine Sea where personnel are stationed for long, solitary stretches. These outposts are often little more than patches of sand in shallow waters, comparable to a football pitch, approachable just with high-speed inflatable boats.
The journeys are clearly frightening for the young animals on board, which are shipped with canned goods and further materials. Footage captures the animals scrambling for a stable position as the vessels zoom across the choppy waves.
The Fishermen's Plight
The film also follows local fishermen around the more populated Scarborough Shoal, who lament over decreasing fish hauls due to the sheer number of Chinese fishing boats in their traditional fishing grounds.
Fascinating Topic, Flawed Presentation
From a technical standpoint, the documentary suffers a bit from a slightly disjointed pacing and a musical score that can feel a bit heavy-handed, amplifying the tense scenes. Nevertheless, it remains a important look of a geopolitical issue that is rarely covered beyond Asia.