Philippines files protest vs China over Panatag incident

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has filed a diplomatic protest against China over the illegal confiscation three months ago of Filipino fishermen’s payaos or fishing devices in Bajo de Masinloc in Zambales, also known as Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal.

In a statement issued Thursday night, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the incident took place in May.

“The DFA lodged today a diplomatic protest to China over the illegal confiscation by the Chinese coast guard of fish aggregating devices (payaos) of Filipino fishermen in Bajo de Masinloc in May,” the agency said.

Located 124 nautical miles from Zambales, Bajo de Masinloc is a traditional fishing area for local fishermen. It is well within the Philippines’ 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone.

The Philippines also opposed the Chinese coast guard’s attempts to stop Filipino patrols in the West Philippine Sea, the DFA said.

“The Philippines also resolutely objected to China’s continuing illicit issuances of radio challenges to Philippine aircraft conducting legitimate regular maritime patrols in the West Philippine Sea,” it said.

Asked by reporters why it took the government months to file the diplomatic protest, DFA Assistant Secretary Eduardo Meñez said, “there is a vetting process that goes through the National Task Force of WPS.”

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said the filing of diplomatic protest is unlikely to undermine the Philippines’ access to COVID-19 vaccine being developed by China.

He said the Philippines has to assert its sovereignty without compromising overall good relations with Beijing.

“Filing protests is something our diplomats do if we think there is violation of our sovereign rights,” Roque said in Filipino.

In April, the DFA filed two diplomatic protests against Beijing for pointing a radar gun at a Philippine Navy ship and declaring a Philippine territory as part of Hainan province, violating international law and the country’s sovereignty.

China created two new districts of Sansha City, the southernmost city of Hainan province, which included Philippine-claimed Spratly Islands, Scarborough Shoal and Fiery Cross Reef.

On July 12, 2016, The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled in favor of the Philippines, declaring China’s expansive nine-dash line claim to the sea invalid.

Beijing has ignored the landmark ruling.

Apart from the Philippines and China, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims in the South China Sea, which is believed to hold large reserves of oil and natural gas. – Helen Flores, Christina Mendez