 On July 6, 1956, Cloma declared to the world his claim and establishment of a separate government with its capital on Flat Island (also known as Patag Island).On October 1, 1956, at Bei Zi Reef in the South China Sea  (called North Danger Reef in ), two nationalist Chinese ships (called Taiwanese ships in )- namely, the Ning Yuan (寧遠) flotilla of the Republic of China Navy(ROC), containing ROC naval vessels Taihe and Yongshun - approached Filemon Cloma's expedition with the boat PMI-IV "and invited Captain Cloma (and Chief Engineer Benito Danseco, and other crew members) and aboard (the naval vessel Tai He ) for a conference.A 4-hour discussion over ownership ensued, during which Cloma was below deck, unaware that a boarding party had searched his vessel and confiscated all arms/ammunition, maps and documents.