April 10, 2021- Chiara Zambrano from ABS-CBN, and her news team were on an assignment in the west Philippines sea close to Palawan province. The journalist was investigating where Filipino fishermen relocated after losing their former fishing grounds to Chinese vessels. The news team was headed towards a reef surface to interview Philippine military detachments who presumably provide security to fishermen anchored there. On their way to Ayungin Shoal, the Filipino crew spotted a Chinese coast guard ship and received a radio message to identify themselves. The boat operator could not respond as the message was in English, and he did not understand. Moments later, the Filipino vessel carrying Chiara Zambrano and her news team was chased by two missile-equipped Chinese boats until they returned to Palawan region. CFWIJ is concerned by this drastic and unjustified threat to Chiara Zambrano and her team. 

Chiara and her crew were put in a precarious position after being chased by Chinese missile-equipped vessel boats. This movement followed the earlier verbal threats and pursuit from Chinese coast guards. A statement from the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines states that Chiara and her news team were carrying out their coverage in a civilian boat in Philippine waters, which is legal and presumably safe. The statement also raised concern over the response of the Armed Forces of the Philippines that says the incident was the result of “journalists’ insatiable desire to be ahead in reporting”.