The Philippines on Sunday accused China’s Coast Guard of installing a “floating barrier” in a disputed area of the South China Sea, saying it prevented Filipinos from entering and fishing in the area.
The Manila Coast Guard and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources “strongly condemn” China’s installation of barriers in part of Scarborough Shoal, Commodore Jay Tarriela, a Coast Guard spokesman, posted on social media platform X, formerly Twitter.
Barriers that prevent fishermen from shoals cause them to be unable to catch fish and livelihood activities,” he said.
“(The Philippine Coast Guard) will continue to work closely with all relevant government agencies to address these challenges, uphold our maritime rights and protect our maritime domain,” Tarriela said.
The Chinese embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
A Chinese Coast Guard boat near a floating barrier is seen on September 20, 2023, near Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. via REUTERS
China claims 90% of the South China Sea, overlapping the exclusive economic zones of Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and the Philippines.
Beijing seized Scarborough Shoal in 2012 and forced fishermen from the Philippines to go farther to catch smaller catches.
Beijing allowed Filipino fishermen to return to uninhabited shoals as bilateral relations improved significantly under then-President Rodrigo Duterte.
Manila’s coast guard and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources have made it clear that they “strongly condemn” China’s obstruction. Reuters
But tensions have risen again since his successor, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, took office last year.
Philippine Coast Guard and fisheries bureau personnel found the floating obstruction, estimated to be 1,000 feet long, during a routine patrol on Friday near the shoal, known as Bajo de Masinloc, Tarriela said.
Three Chinese Coast Guard rigid inflatable boats and a Chinese maritime militia service boat installed the barrier when the Philippine ship arrived, he said.
Filipino fishermen said China usually installs such barriers when they monitor large numbers of fishermen in the area, Tarriela said.
The Chinese boat issued 15 radio challenges and accused Philippine vessels and fishermen of violating international and Chinese law, before moving “upon realizing the presence of media personnel on board (Philippines)”, he said.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
