China continues to beef up presence in Panatag Shoal

MANILA, Philippines - China continued to beef up its presence in Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal as about 30 Chinese boats were spotted in the Philippine-owned area last Thursday, a security official said yesterday.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said there were indications that the Chinese vessels were fishing well within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

The number of Chinese vessels was 10 times more than the three ships spotted in the shoal during a previous monitoring by the government early this month.

“They seem to be continuing their fishing activities. There is really no fishing ban,” the source said.

The information about the presence of Chinese boats was based on a report by officials monitoring the situation in the area.

The ships were spotted last Thursday, two days after the Russian Coast Guard apprehended 36 Chinese fishermen and seized two Chinese vessels that entered its territory.

The Chinese fishermen reportedly tried to fish in the Primorsky region, which is within Russia’s EEZ.

The official declined to provide details as to how many vessels are inside the Panatag Shoal lagoon.

Previously, however, Chinese fishermen who engaged in illegal fishing in the shoal were accompanied by government vessels.

When asked why the number of Chinese vessels increased, the source said: “Perhaps this is due to the lack of deterrents. If there is someone who will guard the area, they (Chinese fishermen) will think twice before going there.”

The Philippines no longer has vessels in the area after President Aquino ordered the pullout of two local ships last June 15 allegedly due to bad weather.

These ships – one from the Coast Guard and one from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources – used to symbolize the Philippines’ ownership of the area.

These vessels faced off with Chinese ships that started occupying the shoal last April. It remains unclear whether Philippine vessels would be redeployed to the shoal.

In contrast, China maintained its presence in the shoal even though the Philippines’ ownership of the area is backed by international law.

Panatag Shoal is located 124 nautical miles from the nearest base point in Zambales. The Philippines’ ownership of the shoal is backed by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), of which China is a signatory. 

Both Manila and Beijing support peaceful means to resolve the dispute despite incidents of bullying by Chinese ships of Filipino vessels and fishermen.

Last June 25, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced that the Philippines and China had reached a verbal agreement to pull out from the lagoon but not the wider vicinity of the shoal.

China, however, did not honor the agreement as the Philippine Navy reported the following day that 23 Chinese boats were inside the lagoon.

China, the Philippines, and other Southeast countries are embroiled in a territorial dispute over areas in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

Lacson: Keep your mouth shut

As this developed, Senate committee on national defense and security chairman Panfilo Lacson said that the dispute between the Philippines and China is worsening and must be stopped immediately by keeping everybody’s mouth shut on the issue.

Lacson said that the situation has gotten from bad to worse because of all the confrontational statements being issued by both sides.

He said it would be pointless for the government to continue pursuing this tactic against China, especially since the country cannot possibly match the other side’s military might if ever the situation escalates to a full-blown confrontation.

He said that bringing the United States into the picture would only worsen the situation.

Instead of engaging in verbal exchange, Lacson advised the executive branch to shift its attention to the economic relations between the two countries.

“My suggestion is to set aside the controversial issues and shift our focus to the economic side. This is what China wants too so let’s just focus on this and nothing else,” he said.

Lacson said that seeking the help of other nations on the settlement of the dispute with China is all right as long as these are not discussed openly in order to avoid further controversy.

“We can continue talking to the US or the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries or any other country but do this discreetly and not so openly as if we are flaunting this,” he said.

Sen. Francis Escudero agreed that there should be less talk from both sides in order to avoid a confrontation. – Marvin Sy