Gov't hits China on rising number of Chinese vessels in Scarborough

BREAKING NEWS

THE FOREIGN Affairs department has again issued a diplomatic protest over the increasing number of Chinese government and fishing vessels in the Scarborough Shoal, over which the Philippines and China have been in a diplomatic gridlock since last month.

"We have received reports from the Philippine Coast Guard that there is an increasing number and pattern of Chinese government vessels and fishing vessels in the area," announced Foreign Affairs spokesperson and undersecretary Raul S. Hernandez in a briefing on Wednesday.

"The Philippines protests these actions of China as clear violations of Philippine sovereignty and jurisdiction over the shoal and sovereign rights over the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone that covers the waters around Bajo de Masinloc (local name for Scarborough Shoal)," Mr. Hernandez said, saying they demand that China make its actions consistent with its statements that it wants a deescalation of the tension in the disputed area.

Citing reports from the Coast Guard, Mr. Hernandez said that at around 7:00 p.m. of May 21, five Chinese government vessels, 16 Chinese fishing boats, and 56 utility boats were in the area. Yesterday, however, the number of utility boats increased to 76.

Mr. Hernandez said they have already conveyed their "grave concern" over such actions through a May 21 Note Verbale sent to the Chinese embassy in Manila. This serves as the seventh diplomatic protest issued by the PHilippine government in relation to the shoal dispute.

"The Philippines, therefore, demands that China's vessels immediately pull out from Bajo de Masinloc and the PHilippines' Exclusive Economic Zone and for China to refrain from taking further actions that exacerbate the situation in the West Philippine Sea," the Foreign Affairs official said, saying that the increase of Chinese vessels in the shoal imperils the marine biodiversity and ecosystem in the entire West Philippine Sea.

The shoal--called Panatag Island and Bajo de Masinloc by the Philippines, and Huangyan Island by China--is located 124 nautical miles away from the shores of Zambales and 450 nautical miles from those of China.

The Chinese claim that the shoal is their based on historical records, while the Philippines stands firm that the disputed area is within its 200-nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone.-Business World (May 23, 2012)