Reed Bank incident shows PHL-China relations has no mutual respect — maritime law expert

The recent incident involving a Chinese fishing vessel colliding with and sinking a Filipino boat off Recto Bank (Reed Bank) in the West Philippine Sea is a sign that relations between the the two country’s relations lack mutual respect, a maritime law expert said on Thursday.

“[Relations] should be based on mutual respect and good faith,” University of the Philippines Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea director Jay Batongbacal said in an interview on GMA News’ Balitanghali.

“Itong ganitong klaseng insidente, e nagiging evidence ito na walang mutual respect and good faith doon sa relationship. Kaya kailangan nilang umaskyon,” he added.

According to Batongbacal, the crew and captain of the erring vessel from China should have helped the Filipino fishermen, whose boat sank due to the collision. 

Instead, the Chinese vessel left and the crew was rescued by a Vietnamese boat in the area.

Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Command spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Penetrante on Thursday said that based on their report, the collision was "far from accidental." 

“May standard rules diyan. Meron tayong tinatawag na collision regulations, international convention ito,” Batongbacal said.

Due to the incident, the crew and captain of the erring Chinese vessel are liable under the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, which was published by the International Marine Organization.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. has filed a diplomatic protest over the Reed Bank incident before the Maritime Safety Committee of the IMO. 

According to Batongbacal, China has the obligation to investigate and sanction the crew of the erring vessel, and report it to the Philippines.

If China do not do this, they will be facing ‘international responsibility,’ Batongbacal said.

On June 10, the Maritime Situational Awareness Center - West (MSAC - West) received an information from the boat captain of FB 076 that a Chinese fishing vessel collided with Filipino boat F/B GIMVER 1.

However, this information was made public by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana only on June 12, Philippine Independence Day.

At least 22 Filipino fishermen survived the incident. — Joviland Rita/BM, GMA News