Marcos downplays Chinese Coast Guard shadowing

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos was unperturbed by the recent shadowing of Philippine fishing vessels by the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), noting “some progress” in the talks between Manila and Beijing on fisheries.

Marcos made the remarks days after the civilian patrol vessel of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), BRP Francisco Dagohoy, was tailed and radio challenged by CCG vessel while on its way to Pag-Asa Island in Palawan to deliver assistance to Filipino fishermen.

“The latest report was (the Philippine vessel) was just followed and (was) no longer blocked like before,” the President said in an interview after gracing the 125th anniversary of the Department of Agriculture, which he concurrently heads.

Marcos added BFAR has even projected higher fish production from the WPS due to improvement in the situation.

“That is because we are continuing to talk to the Chinese government, to (Chinese) President Xi (Jinping) in every way,” the Chief Executive said.

“We are making some progress in that (fishing talks with China) regard. And also the coordination, when there is fishing ban, we are coordinating with them (Chinese government),” he said.

“That is slowly, slowly, these things do not come very quickly, slowly, slowly, but we are slowly making progress because the key to that is the improved communication between the Philippine government and the Chinese government,” Marcos said.

The government, he said, continues to provide livelihood or other source of income to affected Filipino fishermen.

In May, Marcos said he would not impose a deadline on discussions with China regarding Filipinos’ fishing rights in the WPS.

“The deadline is only when it’s done because if you set a deadline and it’s not done, what then? It doesn’t help anything. So, you just keep going, keep going, keep going, as hard as you can, as much as you can until you get an agreement on the fishing grounds,” Marcos said.

The President had directed the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Department of Foreign Affairs “to put together perhaps a map of these fishing grounds” within the Philippines’ territory.

BRP Francisco Dagohoy commanding officer Lt. Cdr. Mark Adrias confirmed last week the shadowing incident.

Adrias also noted that fisherfolk in Pag-Asa Island experience similar incidents when passing near Chinese-occupied territories.

According to BFAR, fisheries production in the WPS dropped by seven percent from 2021 to 2022.

Citing Philippine Statistics Authority data, BFAR spokesman Nazario Briguera said production was down to 275,872 metric tons of fish in 2022, from 295,332 MT the previous year.