China's raid on Philippine sea to affect fishery sector —AGHAM

China’s continuous incursion into the West Philippine Sea will have an impact on the country's fishery sector and food security, a group of scientists warned on Friday.

In a statement, the Advocates of Science and Technology for the People (AGHAM) condemned China’s "invasion" of the Philippine's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the disputed marine area, parts of which Manila called the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Citing reports, AGHAM said that at least 16,000 hectares of reefs were destroyed as of 2017 due to China’s reclamation activities in the Spratlys area west of Palawan.

This is equivalent to at most P33.1 billion in losses every year, it said, adding that these destructive activities will lead to loss of livelihood of some 627,000 Filipino fisherfolk.

“AGHAM raises alarm on possible consequences not only to the environment but also to fisheries production and fisherfolk welfare. China’s rising aggression in the past five years of the Duterte administration involved many cases of harassment and extortion on Filipino fisherfolk, as well as environmental destruction, including poaching of giant clams, and reclamation and building of military bases on reef areas,” the group said.

It also noted the reported presence of around 220 Chinese fishing vessels in the Julian Felipe Reef area, and the “illegal” structures in Union Bank in the Kalayaan Group of Islands.

Likewise, it mentioned the “dangers” posed by China’s newly-passed Coast Guard Law to Filipino fishermen, saying the measure allows Chinese coastguard to shoot Pinoy fishers if it sees fit.

AGHAM likewise reminded the Duterte administration to defend the national sovereignty, saying defending the WPS will secure the future of the Filipinos.

Last Wednesday, the National Task Force-West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) said 44 Chinese maritime militia ships remain around the Julian Felipe Reef despite a protest filed by the Philippines and a demand for Beijing to pull them out.

A recent maritime patrol by the Philippine military also saw that aside from these 44 boats, over 200 other Chinese vessels were seen scattered around the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG).

In 2016, the Hague, Netherlands-based Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled in favor of the Philippines, invalidating China's massive claims over the South China Sea that infringe into the Philippine EEZ.

On April 1, Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said that what is within our EEZ "is ours" even the areas where China has put up structures on. 

"Within our EEZ (exclusive economic zone) so it’s ours. The durability and vintage of the structures don’t matter. Ours," Locsin said. 

But China has since refused to honor the arbitral ruling.  —Hana Bordey/LBG, GMA News