Amid escalating tensions in the South China Sea, the Philippine Coastguard has issued a call to action for the country’s fishermen. On Wednesday, they urged Filipino fishermen to continue their operations around the disputed Scarborough Shoal and other contested areas within the region. The Coastguard, undeterred by the imposing Chinese presence in these waters, has pledged to enhance patrols to protect the rights of Filipino fishermen operating within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
Commodore Jay Tarriela, spokesperson for the Philippine Coastguard, emphasized their commitment to increasing patrols, particularly in Bajo de Masinloc, known as Scarborough Shoal in the Philippines. This shoal has long been a point of contention in one of Asia’s most fiercely disputed maritime areas.
In recent developments, the Philippine Coastguard took decisive action by removing a 300-meter floating barrier installed by China. This barrier had effectively blocked access to Scarborough Shoal, an area that China has controlled for over a decade, deploying coastguard ships and a fleet of large fishing vessels.
However, the Chinese coastguard countered the Philippine version of events, claiming that they had retrieved the barrier on their own initiative after a Philippine vessel allegedly entered the area “illegally.” Wang Wenbin, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, reiterated China’s claim to the shoal, referring to it by its Chinese name, Huangyan Island.
Philippine Defence Secretary Gilbert Teodoro defended their actions, stating that they were responding to China’s actions and not provoking any confrontation. According to the Chinese coastguard, a Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources vessel had entered the area on September 22 and proceeded into the shoal’s lagoon despite warnings, prompting the temporary deployment of nets to block its passage. The Chinese side claimed that they had subsequently retrieved the net barrier on September 23, dismissing the Philippine’s account as a “complete fabrication.”
Scarborough Shoal, a rocky mid-sea outcrop located approximately 200 kilometers off the Philippine coast and 850 kilometers from mainland China’s southern island of Hainan, has been at the center of numerous diplomatic disputes. Both the Philippines and China assert sovereignty over the shoal, which serves as a vital fishing ground in the South China Sea. Moreover, its proximity to major shipping lanes that facilitate an estimated $3.4 trillion in annual commerce underscores its strategic importance. China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea further complicate matters, affecting the fisheries and offshore oil and gas activities of its Southeast Asian neighbors.
Coastguard spokesperson Tarriela highlighted a significant development: the successful anchoring of a Philippine Fisheries Bureau vessel just 300 meters from the Scarborough Shoal’s lagoon, marking the closest point to the atoll since China’s seizure of the area in 2012. This development underscores the Philippines’ determination to assert its presence in the region and protect its fishing rights.
As tensions persist over Scarborough Shoal and the broader South China Sea, the situation remains complex and highly sensitive. The Philippines’ resolute stance, backed by its coastguard and fishermen, demonstrates its commitment to safeguarding its interests in this disputed maritime territory, where the right to fish and access vital resources hangs in the balance.
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