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Director Baby Ruth Villarama and her crew travel on a variety of maritime vessels to document the ongoing strife and its effects between the Philippine nation and China over sovereignty of the newly designated West Philippine Sea. These waters, viewed by nearly everyone apart from China as part of the Philippines' maritime territory, has seen a growing presence by Chinese vessels. These include fishing boats, the majority consist of maritime militia that have been accused of harassing, intentionally hit, and attempted to board Filipino boats amid the broader sovereignty dispute.

Certain scenes are highly charged, yet mostly the conflict takes the form of a tense game of seaborne intimidation. Crews aboard the different ships deliver impassioned radio transmissions, laden with legal jargon, practicing a unique radio diplomacy.

Resupply at the Front Lines

The documentary's name references the critical efforts by the Filipino military to resupply foodstuffs to isolated garrisons in the West Philippine Sea where troops maintain a presence for extended, lonely tours. These specks of land are often mere dollops of sand in the shallows, comparable to a football pitch, accessible only by speeding rubber dinghies.

The journeys are clearly frightening for the cargo of baby goats, which are shipped with preserved supplies and additional provisions. Footage captures the goats struggling for secure footing as the boats hurtle across the rolling sea.

The Fishermen's Plight

In another segment fishers living around the inhabited Scarborough Shoal, who express concern over dwindling catches caused by the sheer number of Chinese fishing boats in their traditional fishing grounds.

Fascinating Topic, Flawed Presentation

Critically speaking, the documentary suffers a bit from a slightly disjointed pacing and a soundtrack that can feel somewhat melodramatic, overplaying the dramatic moments. However, it stands as a compelling examination of a critical subject that receives little discussion in Western media.