MANILA, Sept 24 (Portal) – The Philippines on Sunday accused China’s coast guard of setting up a “floating barrier” in a disputed area of the South China Sea, saying it had prevented Filipinos from entering and staying in the area fishing.
Manila’s coast guard and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources “strongly condemn” China’s installation of the barrier in a portion of Scarborough Shoal, Commodore Jay Tarriela, a coast guard spokesman, wrote on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter.
The barrier that keeps fishermen from the beach deprives them of their fishing activity and their livelihood, he said.
“The (Philippine Coast Guard) will continue to work closely with all concerned government agencies to address these challenges, safeguard our maritime rights and protect our maritime areas,” Tarriela said.
The Chinese Embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
[1/3]In this handout image released by the Philippine Coast Guard on September 24, 2023, Chinese Coast Guard boats are pictured near the floating barrier near Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea on September 20, 2023. Philippine Coast Guard/Handout via Portal Purchase license rights
China claims 90% of the South China Sea, overlapping the exclusive economic zones of Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and the Philippines. Beijing seized Scarborough Reef in 2012, forcing Filipino fishermen to travel further for smaller catches.
Beijing allowed Filipino fishermen to return to the uninhabited shoal as bilateral relations improved significantly under then-President Rodrigo Duterte. However, tensions have risen again since his successor Ferdinand Marcos Jr. took office last year.
Philippine Coast Guard and Fisheries Bureau personnel discovered the floating barrier, estimated to be 300 meters (1,000 feet) long, on Friday during a routine patrol near the shoal known locally as Bajo de Masinloc, Tarriela said.
Three Coast Guard rigid inflatable boats and a Chinese maritime militia service boat installed the barrier when the Philippine ship arrived, he said.
Filipino fishermen say China usually sets up such barriers when it controls a large number of fishermen in the area, Tarriela said.
The Chinese boats issued 15 radio calls accusing the Filipino vessel and fishermen of violating international and Chinese laws before moving away “when they noticed the presence of media personnel on board the (Filipino) vessel,” he said.
Reporting by Enrico Dela Cruz; Edited by William Mallard
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