The Philippines coastguard, on Wednesday (Sep 27), urged the country’s fishermen to continue their operations at the disputed Scarborough Shoal and other sites in the South China Sea. They pledged to enhance patrols despite the imposing Chinese presence.
Commodore Jay Tarriela, the coastguard spokesperson, stated that Philippine vessels were unable to maintain a constant presence but remained committed to safeguarding the rights of fishermen within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
“We’re going to increase patrols in Bajo de Masinloc and other areas where Filipino fishermen are,” he mentioned during a DZRH radio interview, referring to the shoal, one of Asia’s most contested maritime features, by its Philippine name.
Earlier in the week, the coastguard took the bold step of cutting a 300-meter floating barrier installed by China, which had obstructed access to the Scarborough Shoal. Beijing has controlled this area for over a decade with coastguard ships and a fleet of large fishing vessels.
China responded with restraint, advising Manila on Tuesday to avoid provocations and not cause trouble.
Gilbert Teodoro
Defence Secretary Gilbert Teodoro clarified that the Philippines’ action in removing the cordon was not a provocation, stating, “We are reacting to their action. They moved first, they blocked our fishers.”
The rocky, mid-sea outcrop has been the source of numerous diplomatic disputes, with both countries asserting sovereignty over the shoal. It is a prime fishing location approximately 200 kilometers off the Philippines and 850 kilometers from mainland China, including its southern island of Hainan.
Control of the shoal is strategically important for Beijing, given its proximity to shipping lanes that transport an estimated US$3.4 trillion of annual commerce. China claims sovereignty over most of the South China Sea, which complicates fisheries and offshore oil and gas activities by its Southeast Asian neighbors.
Tarriela reported that the Philippine fisheries bureau had successfully anchored a vessel just 300 meters from the Scarborough Shoal’s lagoon, marking the closest point to the atoll since China seized it in 2012.
It remains unclear whether China’s use of a barrier represents a shift from the status quo that had been in place since 2017, during which Beijing’s coastguard allowed Filipinos to operate there, albeit on a smaller scale than China.
These developments come amidst strained relations, with the Philippines displaying increasing assertiveness regarding China’s coastguard activities in its EEZ. Meanwhile, it strengthens military ties with the United States by expanding access to its bases.
“The Scarborough Shoal is closer to the Philippines ,” remarked one of the fishermen Pepito Fabros, who had come ashore in the province of Zambales between trips to the sea.