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Filmmaker Baby Ruth Villarama and her team board a range of boats and ships to document the ongoing strife and its consequences between the Philippines and China over authority of the recently named West Philippine Sea. These waters, viewed by the international community outside of China as within the Philippines' EEZ, has seen escalating incursions by Chinese maritime forces. While some are fishing boats, many are Chinese coast guard ships that have engaged in harassing, intentionally hit, and tried to seize Filipino boats in the context of the broader sovereignty dispute.

Portions of the film are incredibly gripping, but frequently the conflict takes the form of a diplomatic dance of maritime bluster. Crews aboard opposing vessels deliver impassioned radio transmissions, peppered with diplomatic language, creating a form of long-distance negotiation.

Resupply at the Front Lines

The documentary's name highlights the critical efforts by the Armed Forces of the Philippines to resupply foodstuffs to tiny outposts in the West Philippine Sea where personnel are stationed for long, solitary stretches. These outposts are often just small accumulations of sand in shallow waters, comparable to a football pitch, approachable just with high-speed inflatable boats.

These trips prove evidently terrifying for the cargo of baby goats, which are crammed in with tinned food and other necessities. Viewers see the animals scrambling for better balance as the boats hurtle across the choppy waves.

Voices from the Shoal

The film also follows communities around the more populated Scarborough Shoal, who lament over dwindling catches caused by the persistent presence of trawlers from China in their ancestral fishing areas.

A Compelling Subject, Imperfect Execution

In terms of filmmaking, the documentary suffers a bit from a somewhat scattered narrative approach and a musical score that can feel somewhat melodramatic, overemphasizing the emotional beats. Nevertheless, it remains a fascinating exploration of a geopolitical issue that gets scant attention outside its region.