The Philippines on Monday demanded that China stop its Coast Guard from confiscating the catch of Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea, calling the…
The Philippines on Monday demanded that China stop its Coast Guard from confiscating the catch of Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea, calling the practice “unacceptable.”
The demand, aired by presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, followed reports that Chinese coast guards were confiscating the best part of Filipino fishermen’s catch at Panatag Shoal, a rich fishing ground off Zambales province in the West Philippine Sea, waters within the country’s 370-kilometer exclusive economic zone in the heavily contested South China Sea.
China seized Panatag — internationally known as Scarborough Shoal — from the Philippines in 2012, but the UN-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration, ruling in 2016 in favor of the Philippines in the country’s challenge to Chinese claim of sovereignty over nearly all of the South China Sea, declared the shoal did not belong to any party in the territorial disputes in the strategic waterway.
Confiscation confirmed
China ignored the ruling and blockaded Panatag, although it allowed Filipinos to fish at the shoal under an agreement with the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte who, instead of demanding respect for the UN tribunal’s decision, put it on the back burner in exchange for aid, loans and investments.
Roque confirmed reports that Chinese coast guards seized the catch of Filipino fishermen at Panatag in May in violation of the agreement.
“[Filipino fishermen] deserve better, that’s why we are taking steps to address the issue with the Chinese,” Roque told reporters.
“We have addressed this issue to the Chinese and we are demanding that the Chinese take steps to stop the Coast Guard from doing these acts,” he said.
“That is unacceptable. That is why we informed the Chinese we will not allow fish to be taken from our fishermen,” Roque said.
Roque also confirmed that Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano had spoken with Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jinhua about the May incident at Panatag.
