Disputed sea is ours – China

MANILA, Philippines - China declared yesterday it has “indisputable sovereignty” over South China Sea islands being claimed by its neighbors and rejected the Philippine protest over an incident where the Chinese coast guard reportedly fired a water cannon at Filipino fishermen in Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal last Jan. 27.

In a statement, the Chinese embassy in Manila said China’s sovereignty also covers Huangyan Island, its name for Panatag Shoal.

“The Chinese side does not accept the so-called ‘protest’ by the Philippine side. We urge the Philippine side to work with the Chinese side to resolve differences through bilateral consultations and negotiations,” Zhang Hua, deputy chief of Political Section and spokesman of the Chinese embassy in Manila, said. “Chinese government vessels are conducting regular patrols within China’s jurisdiction,” he said.

At Malacañang, President Aquino demanded an explanation of the incident from China. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) summoned yesterday and handed a note verbale to Charge d’Affaires Sun Xiangyang of the Chinese embassy to protest the Jan. 27 incident and other acts of aggression by China in the West Philippine Sea.

“The Department likewise strongly protests the acts of harassment and the manner by which these were committed by China to forcefully drive away Philippine fishing vessels from Bajo de Masinloc,” DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez said.

“The Department vehemently protests the acts of China when its law enforcement vessels drove away Philippine fishing vessels seeking shelter in the Philippines’ Bajo de Masinloc during inclement weather,” he said.

He said that based on information received by the DFA, the Jan. 27 incident involved a Chinese coast guard vessel with bow number 3063 and two Filipino fishing boats.

“The CCG vessel continuously blew its horn and thereafter doused the fishing vessels with water cannons for several minutes,” he said.

The Filipinos, he said, were on boats F/B P8 and F/B Kin based in Zambales.

Hernandez said they received reports of nine other cases of harassment of Filipino fishermen by Chinese civilian maritime law enforcement agency (CMLEA) vessels last year. He said harassment occurred even during inclement weather.

“They (fishermen) reported it (water cannon incident) to the authorities and they expected us to make this protest against the Chinese,” he added.

“As far as the Filipino fishermen in the area, our fishermen have every right to pursue their livelihood in Bajo de Masinloc which is an integral part of the territory over which the Philippines exercises sovereign rights and jurisdiction,” Hernandez said.

“We call on China to respect our sovereignty and the rights of our fishermen in that area,” he said.

Explanation

President Aquino, for his part, wants Beijing to explain the Jan. 27 incident and spell out its policy in dealing with similar situations.

“Now, the first step will be... a diplomatic message... There are various terms for these diplomatic messages directed at the People’s Republic of China to ask them to explain what this incident was all about and what their directions are,” the President told reporters in Cebu where he led the 28th anniversary celebration of EDSA People Power Revolution.

Aquino reiterated there are diplomatic means to settle the matter and that Manila has actually turned to the United Nations for arbitration to peacefully assert the country’s claim over Panatag Shoal, which is well within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

The President said he just learned about the incident recently and would like to have confirmation by getting more information from the people involved.

He said this would provide sound basis for corresponding Philippine action.

“We are not sure at this point in time if we can call it their (Chinese) standard operating procedure because as of (Monday), we have fishermen inside the shoal who are not being harassed nor intimidated by any entity,” the President said.

He said he did not want to react to an incident which Beijing could easily dismiss as having been carried out by coast guard personnel following orders from their commanding officer.

“But be that as it may, I think it is proper for us to ask them exactly what this incident was all about, what their intentions are,” he said.

He added the DFA and the Department of National Defense are now “drafting the appropriate communications” after “conferring and after getting the necessary proof.”

Panatag Shoal, also locally known as Bajo de Masinloc, is a traditional Filipino fishing ground just 220 kilometers off Zambales and 650 km from Hainan island, the nearest major Chinese land mass.

The shoal has been under virtual occupation by the Chinese since April 2012 when they prevented Philippine authorities from arresting Chinese poachers on eight boats.

Unjustifiable

For the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the international community should condemn the Chinese coast guard’s use of force on unarmed fishermen.

“The international community can now be aware of what is the real situation there, that it really merits an international response and condemnation,” AFP public affairs chief Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said yesterday.

He called the incident “alarming” considering the “already volatile situation” in the area.

“We are supporting the pursuit of government in the path of international tribunal to solve the problem here and the best really is a code of conduct so that it will not happen again,” he said in a press briefing.

When asked by the media what incident would merit military action, Zagala said: “That’s speculative. Don’t let me talk about deploying forces there if that’s what you want to hear.”

He reiterated his call for local fishermen to continue with their normal activities despite China’s aggressive acts. “We cannot let an aggressor stop our way of life,” he said.

Zagala also said the Palawan-based Western Command (Wescom) has assumed supervision over Panatag Shoal from the Northern Luzon Command in Tarlac.

“This is to enhance our external defense capabilities, which are now being concentrated at the Western Command, unity of effort and unity of command, so that our external defense efforts will just be under one commander,” he said.

“The Western Command has the necessary assets that can address territorial defense and monitoring. They have the necessary aircraft that can fly to all these areas for the purpose of monitoring and reporting to higher government office,” he added.

Air Force Lt. Gen. Roy Deveraturda leads the Wescom.

The Nolcom is headed by Army Lt. Gen. Gregorio Catapang. Zambales, which has jurisdiction over Panatag Shoal, is under Nolcom.

Other West Philippine Sea areas being claimed by China and under Wescom’s jurisdiction are Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal, Recto (Reed) Bank and Panganiban (Mischief) Reef off Palawan.

When asked whether Wescom already has its hands full, Zagala said: “Yes, but that is their core competency. Remember, Western Command traditionally is commanded by an Air Force or a Navy officer primarily because of external (defense) and that the battle space is at sea and air.” With Alexis Romero, Michelle Zoleta