Esperon: Why impose ban in PH territory?
BY JOCELYN MONTEMAYOR and VICTOR REYES
THE Philippines has rejected an annual fishing ban imposed by China in the disputed South China Sea (SCS) and encouraged Filipinos to keep fishing in the country’s territorial waters.
“This fishing ban does not apply to our fishermen and the NTF-WPS opposes China’s imposition of the same over the areas within the territory and jurisdiction of the Philippines,” the National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) said in a statement late Tuesday. “The NTF-WPS reiterates that our fisherfolk are encouraged to go out and fish in our waters in the WPS.”
The fishing moratorium imposed by China since 1999 covers areas of the South China Sea as well as other waters off China, like the Panatag Shoal (also called Bajo de Masinloc and Scarborough Shoal) off Zambales and Paracel Island near Vietnam.
Last month, China’s official news agency Xinhua announced that the annual “summer fishing ban” would start on May 1 and last up to August 16. It said the ban “covers the waters north to 12 degrees north latitude of the South China Sea” and is part of China’s efforts to promote sustainable marine fishery development and improve marine ecology.
National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr., chief of the NTF-WPS, said in an interview with ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo that based on the world map, the “South China Sea north of the 12th parallel” would cover up to Busuanga in Palawan.
If China would insist on the fishing ban up to the territorial waters of the Philippines, there would be a dispute, he said.
“Hindi naman covered ang ating fishing boats diyan, sa kanila lang. Bakit sila magpo-proklama ng fishing ban sa ating West Philippine Sea at EEZ (exclusive economic zone) [Our fishing boats are not covered, the ban applies only to them. Why would they proclaim a fishing ban in our West Philippine Sea and exclusive economic zone]?” he said.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard yesterday reported that government vessels drove away seven Chinese maritime militia vessels found at the Sabina Shoal in the WPS, about 75 nautical miles from Rizal, Palawan.
PCG spokesman Commodore Armand Balilo said the seven vessels were sighted by the PCG’s BRP Cabra and two ships of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources vessels on April 27, while conducting maritime exercises in the area.
He said BRP Cabra radioed the Chinese vessels. He quoted the PCG ship as telling the Chinese vessels, “This is Philippine Coast Guard BRP Cabra MRRV-4409. You are within Philippine exclusive economic zone. You are requested to provide the following: name of vessel, intention, last and next port of call on Channel 16.”
Balilo said the Chinese vessels did not respond to three radio messages or challenges, prompting the PCG and BFAR to approach the foreign vessels which left after several hours.
Balilo said the the PCG and BFAR ships “escorted the Chinese vessels out of the Sabina Shoal.”
Balilo said Chinese maritime militia vessels are actually fishing vessels under the supervision of the Chinese Coast Guard and Chinese Navy and are sometimes used for “monitoring.”
He said it was unknown what the Chinese vessels were doing in the area at the time they were sighted.
On April 29, the BRP Cabra, while approaching Sabina Shoal, sighted three Chinese fishing vessels and two unidentified vessels. The five vessels left two hours after they were monitored and observed by the PCG vessel.
Esperon said the Philippines has deployed more assets to the disputed area to assist Filipino fishermen.
The NTF-WPS said BRP Sindangan and BFAR vessels are deployed at the Bajo de Masinloc “to enforce our fisheries laws and protect our fishermen” while the BRP Malapascua was to Kalayaan town in Palawan.
The Philippines in 2012 filed a case against China after it occupied the Panatag Shoal/Bajo de Masinloc, which is a traditional fishing ground.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 issued a ruling invalidating China’s nine-dash line claim which covers most of the South China Sea. China has refused to acknowledge the ruling.
Tension between the Philippines and China recently escalated after Manila accused China of territorial incursions by hundreds of its vessels in the resource-rich waterway.
The Philippines has filed diplomatic protests against China over what it calls the “illegal” presence of the Chinese vessels, which it says are manned by militia.
Chinese diplomats have said the boats were just sheltering from rough seas and no militia were aboard. — with Reuters
