Two China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels are shadowing a Philippine survey vessel, the BRP H Ventura, as it conducts its hydrologic survey north of Scarborough Shoal.
A Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel, the BRP Gabriela Silang, is also escorting the survey vessel as it is conducting the survey.
One of the CCG vessels sailed less than 2 nautical miles (1.85 km) from the survey ship as it sailed towards the survey area.
However, the CCG vessels previously blocked the paths of both the Philippine survey and the PCG vessels to prevent them from reaching the location where they would conduct the survey. The vessels did not move from this position for approximately eight hours.
