’60 Minutes’ documents heightened tensions in the West Philippine Sea

American journalist Cecilia Vega recently documented the escalating tensions in the West Philippine Sea for a story on the season opener of CBS’ 60 Minutes. During her assignment, Vega witnessed firsthand a Philippine Coast Guard ship being rammed by the Chinese Coast Guard.

“We expected on this assignment to see these tensions between the Philippines and China. We didn’t expect to end up ourselves in the middle of an international incident,” Vega said in a 60 Minutes Overtime video.

Vega and her team captured the incident last month while in the Philippines to document what was meant to be a routine resupply mission in the West Philippine Sea. Onboard the BRP Cape Engaño, they experienced intense intimidation tactics from the Chinese.

Actual 60 Minutes piece

“The intimidation is very real when you see it up close,” Vega said. “What you also see, and it takes going out there to see this for yourself, is just how volatile the situation is. You see just how in a moment, things could turn out there and what’s at stake. You could end up with a war, a conflict that no one is talking about because of potential U.S. intervention that they could have to get involved in this.”

60 Minutes producer Andy Court, who accompanied Vega, described the experience as “scary,” adding that “there’s no other way to describe it. I don’t think anything you put on television will accurately convey what it’s like.”

“I’ve been working for this show for a long time. I’ve been in a lot of situations that were dangerous and tense in some way,” he said. “I don’t think I’ve ever felt this vulnerable. You’re completely isolated out there. You’re completely surrounded.”

Watch the video below: