DFA summons China envoy over baselines

MANILA, Philippines —  The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) summoned Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian yesterday to manifest the Philippines’ protest over China’s drawing of baselines around Panatag Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc.

“The said baselines infringe upon Philippine sovereignty and contravene international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 Arbitral Award,” the DFA said in a statement.

The DFA stressed that China’s baselines claim released on Sunday following the Philippines’ passage of new laws identifying its maritime zones in accordance with international law “have no legal basis and are not binding on the Philippines.”

Meanwhile, a Philippine fishing vessel was blocked multiple times by China Coast Guard vessels while attempting to access traditional fishing grounds near Escoda (Sabina) Shoal, according to the boat captain.

Arnel Lepalam, captain of the FFB Hadassah, recounted his crew’s experience in a sworn statement shared by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), describing how his vessel was repeatedly blocked and harassed as it tried to enter the area.

“We set out on Oct. 8, 2024, around 1:30 p.m. from Quezon Port (Palawan) to reach Sabina Shoal,” Lepalam wrote in Filipino.

He explained that his boat encountered a suspected China Coast Guard (CCG) ship the next day, approximately eight nautical miles north of Bombay Shoal.

As the FFB Hadassah approached Escoda Shoal early on Oct. 9, the vessel identified as CCG ship 4108 began honking its horn and moving close to the fishing boat.

Around 5:50 a.m., Lepalam said another CCG vessel, ship 5203, deployed two speedboats that approached the Filipino boat.

“Two speedboats came toward us and they kept coming closer until they were hitting our outriggers,” Lepalam recounted.

At 6:10 a.m., the speedboats reportedly blocked the Philippine vessel’s path, with crewmembers on board shouting for them to leave.

Lepalam and his crew, fearing for their safety, changed course toward Bombay Shoal.

“We decided to turn back,” he said, adding that “we were too afraid to keep going.”

Despite the incident, Lepalam and his crew continued their fishing journey at Rozul (Iroquois) Reef, saying “we didn’t want to waste the trip,” explaining their decision to find another spot to fish.

Lepalam said that the FFB Hadassah made another attempt to reach Escoda Shoal on Oct. 17.

However, they were met by another vessel, this time a grey ship numbered 629 and CCG ship 4103.

“This time, they started following us again,” Lepalam said, adding that the CCG didn’t let them get close to Escoda Shoal.

Around 8 p.m. on Oct. 17, as they got near the shoal, he said that the CCG ship 4103 reportedly sounded its horn and warned the fishing boat.

“They told us, ‘Filipino fishing boat, you are not allowed to enter,’” Lepalam said.

Out of concern for their safety, Lepalam said he and his crew decided to abandon their fishing plans at Escoda Shoal and returned to Quezon, Palawan.

Amid the harassment of the CCG, PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan told fishermen that they should not be afraid “because your government is with you.”

“Do not be afraid. The Philippine Coast Guard, the entire force of the government including the Navy, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources are there at the West Philippine Sea,” Gavan said.

He admitted that while they are concerned about the latest report of harassment of Filipino fishermen, he assured the fisherfolk that government agencies are assisting each other in order to follow the order of President Marcos to protect them.

Gavan said they were aware of what happened near Escoda Shoal and that they were managing it “very carefully.”

“We have a new law and it has clarified what our jurisdictions are,” he stressed, referring to the recently enacted Philippine Maritime Zones Act and Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act.

When asked if the PCG would become aggressive in its patrol because of the two maritime laws, Gavan replied, “We do not know yet, but we are prepared for anything.”

Brief ambassador

With the signing of the Philippine Maritime Zones Act and Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act, Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino said the Philippine government could summon China’s ambassador to the country to brief and provide him with official copies of the two landmark maritime laws.

During the Kapihan sa Manila Bay news forum yesterday, Tolentino said briefing and providing China’s ambassador to the country information with the two newly signed laws would “help clarify everything.”

The senator disclosed that during the budget hearing of the Department of Foreign Affairs, he asked its Secretary Enrique Manalo to “call the Chinese ambassador to your office and give him a copy of the new law.”

He added that China summoned the Philippine ambassador to Beijing, just hours after the signing of the two landmark laws to express its strong objection.

Meanwhile, he said the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act will be submitted to the International Maritime Organization and International Civil Aviation Organization. –  Evelyn Macairan, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Mark Ernest Villeza