The National Security Council on Sunday reiterated that the Chinese government has no right to impose any type of moratorium in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

In a statement on Sunday, NSC Assistant Director-General and spokesperson Jonathan Malaya assured that fishermen residing in northern Palawan can always enjoy the rich marine resources in the WPS.

Malaya called on Palawan fishermen to fish beyond their municipal waters and utilize all the natural resources in the WPS.

Earlier this week, the NSC official met with about 170 fisher residents of northern Palawan, where he urged them to stand for their rights in the country’s territorial waters.

“The newly enacted Philippine Maritime Zones Act, UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea), and the 2016 Arbitral Ruling have clearly established our legal rights to the West Philippine Sea, so I urge you to go and continue fishing in the WPS, and we are here to support you,” Malaya told the fishermen.

He stressed that the Philippine government did not impose any moratorium on fishing and dismissed the imposition of the China Coast Guard (CCG) guidelines in any part of the WPS.

Malaya explained that the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has also imposed closed fishing seasons in the country’s archipelagic waters to allow fish to recover, “but none in the WPS.”

“Moreover, the Chinese government has no legal authority to impose any moratorium or legal regulation of activities of Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea,” he said.

“Only the Philippine government can impose that. And I’m here to tell you that you are free to fish anywhere in the WPS,” he added.