Phl will take action to remove China’s floating barriers off Bajo de Masinloc

The National Security Adviser Eduardo Año on Monday said the Philippine government will take appropriate actions to remove the floating barriers installed by the China Coast Guard within the Filipinos' "traditional fishing vicinities" in Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) in the West Philippine Sea.

Año noted that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is always informed about all the developments in the WPS, particularly the aggressions of the Chinese Coast Guard against Filipino fishermen in the Bajo de Masinloc and in the Ayungin Shoal.

"We condemn the installation of floating barriers by CCG in BDM. The placement by the People's Republic of China of a barrier violates the traditional fishing rights of our fishermen whose rights have been affirmed by the 2016 Arbitral ruling," Año said.

He was referring to the report of the Philippine Coast Guard that a 300-meter floating barrier was placed along the Scarborough Shoal—which prevented Filipino fishermen from entering the area and being deprived of fishing on their traditional fishing grounds.

Año said that the installation of CCG's Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats and the Chinese Maritime Militia's service boat of floating barriers in the vicinities of Bajo de Masinloc "strictly violates" the rules-based international order anchored to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

"It ruled categorically that such action by the PRC violated the traditional fishing rights of our fishermen in the shoal who have been fishing there for centuries," he stressed.

The Philippines insists that UNCLOS remains an archipelagic doctrine for the country regarding its exclusive economic zone in the WPS.

"Any State that prevents them from doing artisanal fishing there violates UNCLOS and international law, in general," Año further stressed.

Año assured the government is initiating necessary steps to assert the country's sovereign rights over the shoal.

"We will take all appropriate actions to cause the removal of the barriers and to protect the rights of our fishermen in the area," he said.

China has been blatant in its expansive territorial claims in the South China Sea, including parts of the WPS.

Despite the Permanent Court of Arbitration's ruling, China has since asserted ownership over the entire SCS as shown in its newly released 10-dash line map.

Meanwhile, Senate Majority floor leader Joel Villanueva lambasted China for the lack of respect for the Philippines' sovereign rights in Scarborough Shoal.

"Kitang kita na po sa mga litrato at video ang tahasang pambabastos at kawalan ng respeto ng China sa karapatang soberenya ng Pilipinas. Kaibigan pa ba na matatawag ang isang bully na patuloy na sinasamantala ang relasyon ng dalawang bansa? (You can already see in the photos and videos the China's blatant abuse and lack of respect for the sovereign rights of Philippines. Can a bully who continues to take advantage of the relationship between the two countries be called a friend?)," he said.

Villanueva said these China's actions can really cause harm to the people of Bajo de Masinloc and will eventually destroy their livelihood.

Hence, the senator pushed for the passage of the Philippine Maritime Zones Act—seeking the declaration of maritime zones under the Philippines' jurisdiction, including internal waters, archipelagic waters, territorial sea, contiguous zone, EEZ, and continental shelf.

The Scarborough Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc is located 124 nautical miles east of Zambales.

Villanueva said the bill was among the priority measures discussed by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council, which is also targeted to be passed this year.