China: Barriers necessary to block Philippine vessel

MANILA, Philippines — China has defended its installation of floating barrier in Panatag Shoal, saying it was a “professional, restrained” action “necessary” to block and drive away a Philippine vessel.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin claimed on Monday that a vessel of the Philippines’ Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources intruded into the adjacent waters of Huangyan Dao on Sept. 22 and attempted to enter its lagoon. Huangyan Dao is the Chinese name assigned by Beijing to Panatag Shoal, which is also called Bajo de Masinloc.

The 2016 Arbitral Award affirmed Panatag Shoal as a traditional fishing ground of Filipino fisherfolk.

“China Coast Guard did what was necessary to block and drive away the Philippine vessel. The steps it took were professional and restrained,” Wang said. He also claimed that the shoal has always been China’s territory.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) removed on Monday the floating barrier that Chinese maritime authorities installed to block access to Panatag Shoal.

PCG spokesman Commodore Jay Tarriela said the National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea ordered the PCG “to execute a special operation to remove the floating barrier that obstructed the southeast entrance of Bajo de Masinloc.”

Tarriela said President Marcos directed task force chairman National Security Adviser Eduardo Año to relay the order to the PCG.

Bajo de Masinloc, which is 124 nautical miles from Zambales and nearly 500 nautical miles from the nearest coast of China, is part of Masinloc municipality in Zambales. Panatag Shoal used to be a target range of  US and Philippine naval forces.

The Chinese have not left the shoal since April 2012 after a standoff with the Philippine Navy which arrested Chinese poachers and confiscated their illegal cargo of baby sharks, endangered corals and giant clams.

The Chinese militia vessels prevented the Philippine Navy from arresting the poachers and allowed them to leave with their illegal catch.

Japan, meanwhile, strongly condemned China’s installation of floating barrier in Panatag Shoal.

“As for the installation of floating fences in the waters around Scarborough Shoal, Japan strongly opposes any actions that increase tensions in the South China Sea,” Japanese Ambassador Kazuhiko Koshikawa said in a post on social media platform X.

In a statement provided by the Japanese embassy in Manila, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno also voiced opposition to China’s action.

“Issues surrounding the South China Sea are directly connected to regional peace and stability, and are a legitimate concern of the international community, including Japan,” he said.

Germany, for its part, called the installation of floating barrier “dangerous.”

In a post on X, Petra Sigmund, director general for Asia and the Pacific of the German Federal Foreign Office, said, “All maritime claims and activities in #SouthChinaSea must be based on #UNCLOS and in line w. Arbitral Award of 2016, legally binding parties.”

“In light of dangerous installation of floating barriers: call on all parties to resolve disputes peacefully and not by force or coercion,” Sigmund said.

Earlier, European Union Ambassador Luc Véron said the Chinese Coast Guard’s installation of floating barrier in Panatag Shoal is “deeply concerning” and “dangerous.”