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China’s fishing ban, a history – Marcos
By Nidz Godino
“There are fishing bans … because it’s season…and this is something that we have actually agreed upon before,” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said in media interview after Philippine Business Forum in Singapore China’s four-month fishing ban in South China Sea (SCS) is not new and is just extension of country’s maritime claim.
Marcos, described China’s new rule on detaining those who trespassed what it claims to be its borders as “very worrisome.”
“But new policy of threatening to detain our own citizens, that is different. .. escalation of situation…so, yes, it is now very worrisome,” he added as he expressed readiness to exhaust all means to resolve issue peacefully.
China’s maritime claim, covers virtually entire SCS, was voided by Hague-based international arbitral court in 2016.
Chinese government refuses to recognize tribunal’s ruling, also affirmed Philippines’ sovereign rights over its exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
Philippines and China have had numerous tense encounters in West Philippine Sea (WPS), area in SCS within Philippines’ EEZ and continental shelf.
Manila has assailed Beijing for resorting to aggressive actions to assert its claim in strategic sealane, including use of water cannons and laser pointers on patrolling coast guard vessels.
Earlier this month, China has allowed its coast guard to detain violators of its exit-entry regulations for up to 30 days. For more complicated cases, detention period may be extended to 60 days.
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has criticized policy, saying it is inconsistent with United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Philippines has also protested China’s imposition of fishing moratorium in South China Sea from May 1 to Sept. 16 this year, noting it covers Philippine maritime zones.
Asked if there are meetings or backchannel efforts to resolve dispute or at least forge some sort of middle ground with China, Marcos replied: “Yes, of course, there are… I’ve said it many times. ..you should try everything….you don’t know what effort is going to be successful.”
“So, as any point of contact that I can establish, I will use it, and at every level, at leaders’ level, at ministerial, sub-ministerial, private, as long as it gives us, brings us progress in terms of resolving these,” he added.
The Chief Executive asserted such efforts should seek to stop aggressive actions, like use of water cannons and laser pointers and placing of barriers, and allow Filipinos to fish in WPS.
“Let’s start with that… and if we can get to that, then we can move to next step and to see if there is way to resolve all these claims and so that we can all go about our business in peaceful way and continue to try and develop our countries…there are always, always efforts at every level,” he said.
WPS dispute is expected to take centerstage during Marcos’ keynote address at the Shangri-La Dialogue 2024 in Singapore.
He will be the first Philippine leader to deliver address in annual forum, organized by think tank International Institute for Strategic Studies.
“Fact that they asked Philippine President to come and speak on that very subject is significant in the sense it is recognition that there are challenges that are facing Philippines, specifically, stakeholders are no longer limited to ASEAN ,Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Asia, Indo-Pacific…it really involves global economy already, and so that is why I think Philippines’ position is going to be important in decision-making of many of policymakers around the world,” FMJ said.
Stressing that China’s fishing ban in SCS, includes parts of WPS, has been illegal since it was first implemented in February 2021, Philippine Navy maintained such rules violate international law.
“China is out tune, out of step, out of their minds,” Philippine Navy spokesman for WPS Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad told reporters at press briefing.
Trinidad noted Marcos himself, commander-in-chief, has described fishing ban as unacceptable, with Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. tagging the same as provocative.
“I would like to say that all actions of China that will threaten our national sovereignty, our territorial integrity and welfare of Filipino people will only serve to strengthen Philippine Navy’s and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)’s resolve to perform its mandate…. will further serve as unifying call not only for entire armed forces, but to all Filipinos as well, not only Philippine Navy, but also AFP will fully support actions of other maritime law enforcement agencies, especially Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR). Rest assured that we have sufficient contingency plans in place in the event situations will escalate,” Trinidad said.
PN official assured Filipino fishermen, particularly those in Panatag Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc, that Philippine Navy and entire AFP are fully supportive of their actions and their livelihood, which has been traditional source of their income.
“Don’t be afraid, just go on with what you do, and AFP and entire government are behind you,” Trinidad said in message to Filipino fishermen.
For PCG official, China could not be serious in enforcing its so-called regulations that include fishing ban in entire SCS and detaining foreign “trespassers.”
Recently, PCG monitored only two China Coast Guard (CCG) patrol vessels and nine Chinese maritime militia ships surrounding Panatag Shoal, according to Commodore Jay Tarriela, spokesman of National Task Force-West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) for PCG.
Tarriela noted figures were fewer than “more than 50” Chinese ships guarded area when massive fleet of fishing boats made up humanitarian mission of Atin Ito Coalition sailed in mid-May.
“We can argue that if China is really serious in enforcing fishing ban at its upcoming regulation, it should have beefed up or boosted additional coast guard vessels deployed,” Tarriela said during interview over state-run Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon media forum.
“Average number of China Coast Guard deployed in Bajo de Masinloc are four vessels; now, it’s just two… doesn’t add up to explain this enforcement will be actualized by China,” he added.
Additionally, Tarriela said Filipino fishermen, particularly those from Zambales and Pangasinan likely to be affected by China’s fishing ban, might probably “ignore” China’s impending policies.
“There are fishermen from Zambales who said they’re just going to ignore this, they will continue to fish Bajo de Masinloc…they know that in the past years, they were able to fish despite China’s fishing ban,” he added.
Tarriela maintained Panatag Shoal is part of Philippine sovereignty in accordance with international law and with 2016 arbitral ruling invalidated China’s nine-dash line theory over entire SCS.
Previously, DFA protested “unilateral” four-month fishing ban by China that will last until mid-September.
Tarriela also called as an “empty threat” and “illegal” regulation for CCG to arrest detain foreign “trespassers” without trial for up to 60 days starting mid-June.
He vowed PCG would “intensify its presence” in WPS by deploying more patrol vessels to ensure safety and security of Filipino fishermen.
Former defense secretary and national security adviser Norberto Gonzales said China wants to be known as another superpower nation in the world, thus one of its ultimate goals is to bully other nations, especially in territorial disputes.
“We should bear in mind ongoing issue in West Philippine Sea is not only territorial problem, but also domestic concern of China,” Gonzales said.
He added one of the reasons China is bullying Philippines is that China knows Philippines is under control of United States.
“China knows that we are under American control that’s why China is that furious on Philippines,” Gonzales said.
Defying China’s fishing ban in areas in WPS, group of Filipino fishermen will embark on collective fishing expedition at country’s territorial waters of Masinloc, Zambales today.
Activity will be conducted by members of Panatag Fisherfolk Association, local affiliate of Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya), who will venture 20 to 30 nautical miles off Masinloc.
Pamalakaya national vice chairman Ronnel Arambulo said more than 20 small fishing boats will join in fishing expedition that will start at around 4 in the afternoon and will end tomorrow at around 8 in the morning.
“There is no better way to assert fishing rights in our exclusive economic zone than to conduct collective economic activity,” Arambulo said in statement.
Pamalakaya Zambales coordinator Joey Marabe said expedition is in response to Beijing’s four-month fishing moratorium in WPS, he said has no basis.
“This is show of fishermen’s objection to China’s baseless fishing ban China that will encroach our territory,” Marabe added.
Meanwhile, BFAR assured public there would be no shortage in fish supply amid China’s unilateral four-month-long fishing ban in SCS.
BFAR spokesman Nasser Briguera vowed BFAR would continue to provide protection to fisherfolk to ensure they can still fish despite ban.
He added that in the last months, BFAR provided assistance to areas where fishermen are located.
“We establish presence of government by ensuring BFAR boats are visible where there are Pinoy fishermen,” Briguera said.
He added that in the last months, BFAR provided assistance to areas where the fishermen are located.
It is already considered provocation once China starts to arrest Filipino fisherfolk, he noted.
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