PHL files two diplomatic protests over China’s harassment of Pinoy fishers

The Philippines on Wednesday lodged two diplomatic protests against China’s alleged harassment of Filipino fishermen off the Manila-claimed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea and its illegal harvest of endangered species in the same area.

 

In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs said the diplomatic notes were handed to representatives of the Chinese Embassy in Manila.

 

Citing a report from the Philippine Coast Guard, the DFA said three Philippine-flagged fishing vessels - F/V OG Barbie, F/V Ocean Glory 2, and F/V Ana Marie - “were intentionally rammed” by Chinese Coast Guard Vessel 3412 on January 29 at the shoal, “causing damage to the vessels and endangering the lives and safety of the Filipino fishermen on board.”

 

The fresh incident shows the fragile situation in the South China Sea amid efforts from the Philippines and China to restore ties that have been marred by years-long territorial conflicts.

 

Scarborough, located 124 nautical miles from Masinloc town in Zambales and 472 nautical miles from China’s nearest coastal province of Hainan, is called Huangyan Island by the Chinese.

 

Manila and Beijing figured in a dangerous standoff in the area 2012. The stalemate temporarily ended when President Benigno Aquino III ordered Philippine vessels facing off with Chinese ships to withdraw due to bad weather.

 

However, China never left the area and even roped off the entrance to the shoal to prevent Filipino fishermen access and shelter to its vast lagoon.

 

In its protest, Manila maintained that “Philippine fishing vessels have been routinely, continuously, peacefully and sustainably fishing in Bajo de Masinloc,” the Filipino name for the shoal.

 

“The Philippines strongly protested China’s continuing actions to harass and prevent Filipino fishermen from legitimately pursuing their livelihood in that area,” it said.

 

In a separate incident on Jan. 22, the DFA said at least twenty-four Chinese utility boats were seen collecting giant clams in the lagoon of the shoal, calling it a “destructive and illegal activity.”

 

China claims the South China Sea nearly in its entirety, citing historical entitlements as the basis for its huge claim.

 

It seized control of the shoal — a U-shaped rock formation with a sprawling lagoon teeming with rich maritime resources — in 2012 following a maritime standoff with Philippine authorities.

 

Philippine officials insisted the shoal is within the country’s exclusive economic zone as allowed by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea or UNCLOS – an agreement signed by 163 nations, including China and the Philippines.

 

“Chinese fishing vessels were likewise spotted transporting collected giant clams to other fishing vessels. The act of harvesting giant clams, which are among the most endangered marine species, entails the crushing and destruction of surrounding corals which result in the permanent destruction of the reef itself,” the DFA said.

 

“China’s toleration of, and active support for, the environmentally harmful fishing practices by its nationals at Bajo de Masinloc constitute breaches of its obligations under the 1982 UNCLOS, the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES),” it added. —NB, GMA News