PHL’s friendliness with China ‘not so effective’ amid fish-taking issue — maritime expert

A maritime expert on Wednesday urged the government to strengthen its resolve in asserting the Philippines' rights in the West Philippine Sea, saying that the administration's "friendly" attitude towards  China on the matter does not seem effective.

Professor Jay Batongbacal of the University of the Philippines (UP) Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea made the remark on Wednesday in an interview on Balitanghali when asked about possible remedies to the issue of Chinese Coast Guardsmen taking fish from Filipino fishermen in Scarborough (Panatag) shoal.

"So mukhang napapatunayan din na 'yung ating paka-kaibigan sa China hanggang sa ngayon ay hindi pa ganoon ka-effective din doon sa pag-restore ng ating access sa Scarborough. Parang tino-tolerate pa lang tayo," he said.

GMA News reported last week that members of China's Coast Guard have made a habit of taking fish from Filipino fishermen in the disputed waters. Footage showed the Chinese getting onto a Filipino fishing boat with a basket and taking their pick of fish.

Batongbacal said the coast guardsmen's actions seen in the report may not be direct harassment but could be considered a form of coercion.

"Ang punto diyan ay kinukuha pa rin nila ang isda ng ating mga mangingisda nang walang pahintulot, at napipilitan [ang mga mangingisda] na makisama na lang daw dahil sa takot nilang paalisin sila kung hindi sila makisama," he said.

With the government slow to take action, Batongbacal said, vigilance is important.

"Ang lesson doon siguro talaga is, una, 'yung vigilance...Kung hindi natin nakukuha 'yung information from the government, mabuti nakukuha ng independent media," he said.

"Pangalawa, yung resolve dapat ng gobyerno. Hindi enough na friendly sila. Dapat din may resolve sila na talagang tuloy-tuloy na tinutulak nila kumbaga 'yung agenda na kailangan ma-recover natin 'yung full-entry access doon sa shoal. Sa ngayon, 'yun siguro 'yung lowest hanging fruit for us na sana makapangisda uli ang ating mga tauhan diyan."

In response to the issue, Beijing issued a statement saying it was conducting an investigation into the alleged harassment against Filipino fishermen.

However, it claimed it had allowed Filipinos to fish in Scarborough Shoal "out of goodwill."

"So tayo pa ang magpapasalamat na nakapangisda tayo ng kaunti doon sa ating sariling bakuran," Batongbacal said. — Margaret Claire Layug/BM, GMA News