Remove China’s WPS barrier, PCG told

The Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, and Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri yesterday condemned China's installation of a floating barrier intended to prevent Filipinos from fishing in the Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal.

Located in the southeast portion of the shoal, the barrier, with an estimated length of 300 meters, was spotted by PCG and BFAR personnel aboard the BRP Datu Bankaw while conducting maritime patrol last 22 September.

Approximately 124 nautical miles west of Zambales, the submerged atoll is located in the West Philippine Sea and is part of the Philippines' exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, as affirmed by a 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague.

The PCG and BFAR personnel in the BRP Datu Bankaw spotted 50 fishing boats bearing Filipinos being prevented from earning a living in Scarborough Shoal.

As the BFAR-PCG ship approached the fishermen to give them food and other aid, a China Coast Guard vessel (CCG-3105) issued 15 radio challenges to drive away the Filipinos from the shoal.

The CCG claimed the BFAR–PCG vessel violated international and domestic laws of the People's Republic of China.

Zubiri on Sunday sought the removal of the barrier, saying China has "no right to put any structures within our exclusive economic zone."

"These structures pose a danger to passing fishing boats that can get entangled on the lines and cause considerable damage to the propellers and engines of our fisherfolk," he told reporters.

Zubiri urged the PCG to immediately cut and remove all illegal structures in the West Philippine Sea, "not just to assert our sovereign rights to the area but to protect our fishermen from any possible accidents."

He thanked the PCG for protecting the country's EEZs. "We in the Senate stand by our brave men and women who risk their lives for the freedoms that we enjoy today," he said.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese Embassy in Manila were yet to respond to Daily Tribune's questions on the matter at press time.

Both the Philippines and China claim the Bajo de Masinloc. In recent years, several incidents have occurred between Chinese and Philippine vessels in the area.

In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), PCG spokesperson Jay Tarriela said images showed Chinese boats set up the barrier and buoys.

"Three CCG's rigid hull inflatable boats and a Chinese maritime militia service boat installed the floating barrier," Tarriela said. "The Filipino fishermen reported that the CCG vessels usually install floating barriers whenever they monitor many Filipino fishermen in the area."

"The BFAR vessel responded to each and every radio call (of the CCG)  and emphasized that they were carrying out a routine patrol within the territorial sea of BDM," he added.

Tariella added that the CCG vessels maintained a safe distance and moved away upon realizing the presence of media personnel onboard the BFAR vessel.

China claims 90 percent of the South China Sea, which overlaps with the exclusive economic zones of the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia.

Beijing annexed the Scarborough Shoal in 2012, forcing Filipino fishermen to travel farther.

During the period when bilateral ties were significantly improving under then-President Rodrigo Duterte, Beijing allowed Filipino fishermen to return to the uninhabited shoal.

Hontiveros described the recent China's act as "cruelty."

"China's cruelty knows no bounds. They have no shame in blocking our fishermen from our own waters," she said. "Filipino fisherfolk are among the poorest in our country. They only rely on our seas for their food and their livelihood."

The opposition senator reiterated China's aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea, particularly the recent coral destruction along Rozul Reef and Escoda Shoal.

"We will not allow China to starve our fellow Filipinos to death. I trust that the Philippine Coast Guard can escort our fisherfolk and ensure that they pass through the floating barriers," Hontiveros added.

She renewed her call to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to review the current national policy towards China.

                 @tribunephl_jom @tribunephl_tiz