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MANILA: The tensions between Manila and Beijing over the West Philippine Sea continue to brew after China asked a New Zealand documentary festival to refrain from screening a film about the flashpoint waters. 

The documentary, “Food Delivery: Fresh from the West Philippine Sea”, won the Tides of Change Award in New Zealand’s Doc Edge Festival. 

The documentary focused on the work of Filipino fisherfolk and coast guard in the West Philippine Sea. 

In the name of transparency, Doc Edge posted China’s appeal to them. The Consulate-General of People’s Republic of China in Auckland said that the film festival could “mislead” the public by showing the movie. 

“We hope that you will act in the interest of public and China-New Zealand relations accountability by refraining from screening this documentary,” China said.

However, Doc Edge said that it would remain independent. 

“Doc Edge stands by our Kaupapa and the festival’s independence and curatorial freedom,” they said. 

Following news of China’s request, Philippine officials declared their support for the film, saying that it asserted the Philippines’ rightful claim on the flashpoint waters.

The Philippine Coast Guard’s (PCG) spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea has condemned this move from China, calling it intimidation.

PCG Commodore Jay Tarriela said that China is continuing to assert its “authoritarian influence”. 

“This isn’t just a cinematic endeavour—it’s a bold exposé that shines a spotlight on a critical geopolitical flashpoint, revealing the stark realities faced by those on the front lines of this dispute,” Tarriela said in a social media post. 

“China’s response? A predictable threat and pressure aimed at burying the truth before it can reach a global audience. However, this documentary film, along with New Zealand’s refusal to back down, threatens to dismantle the carefully constructed narrative that China has peddled to legitimise its overreach,” he added. 

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said that they stood by the filmmakers to help defend truth and sovereignty. 

“The AFP supports efforts that shed light on the realities faced by Filipino fisherfolk and maritime defenders in the West Philippine Sea,” the AFP said.

Directed by Baby Ruth Villarama, Doc Edge called the documentary “a banned film that must be seen.” 

In March, “Food Delivery: Fresh from the West Philippine Sea” was removed from the PureGold CinePanalo Film Festival due to alleged “external factors.” 

Months later, the documentary film won big at Doc Edge, which is an Oscar-qualifying film festival. This means that the documentary film may be considered for an Academy Award. 

China has continuously encroached upon Philippine territory throughout the years, despite a 2016 ruling from the Permanent Court of Arbitration that quashed China’s nine-dash line claim. 

The documentary tells the stories of local fishermen, the national Coast Guard, and the Navy as they work in the South China Sea – with a particular focus on the area around the Scarborough Shoal.

Contained within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone, China’s had de-facto control of it since 2012 and has refused to accept an international ruling that said its claim over almost the entirety of the South China Sea has no legal basis.

University of Otago senior lecturer in politics Nicholas Khoo said there is “absolutely no ambiguity” and the Scarborough Shoal is “Filipino territory”.

“The challenge is that China doesn’t respect the Filipino position, nor does it respect the international legal issue that is at stake here.”

He said the situation “underlines the importance of New Zealand standing up for the international legal order” and for it to continue to “reassert our interest in freedom of navigation”, adding that “there should not be an aggressive use of force to attempt to solve issues”.