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Our West Philippine Sea

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The Philippine Coast Guard is investigating the January 9 Ayungin shoal incident after Filipino fishing boat KEN-KEN captain Lito Al-os reported that Chinese Coast Guard Vessel 5204 drove them away while they were fishing in nearby waters. Interestingly, this happened just days after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. went on a state visit to China, from January 3 to 5.

According to the report, the Chinese vessel maneuvered at around 800 yards and deployed a rigid hull inflatable boat, with personnel aboard gesturing the Filipinos to leave. The Chinese vessel then continued to shadow the Filipinos until Boxall reef.

In response to the reported harassment of Filipino fishermen, the PCG said it immediately deployed additional coast guard vessels to strengthen its presence in the West Philippine Sea. The Philippines’ permanent presence on Ayungin shoal was established in 1996, with the BRP Sierra Madre.

The Department of Foreign Affairs also maintained that Ayungin shoal is part of the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf of the Philippines, therefore giving Filipino fishermen the right to “take whatever they are due” while in the area.

The DFA added that the Philippines is “entitled to exercise sovereign rights and jurisdiction in the area, without any intervention from another country,” citing domestic and international law, particularly the United States Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2016 Hague ruling that China continues to ignore.

Marcos Jr. noted that there is already a bilateral group working on South China Sea issues and he has already proposed to elevate the group to a ministerial level where the Philippine foreign secretary and ambassador to China is a part of it, so they can make immediate decisions.

The push back against Chinese harassment of Filipinos in territory that is by international law ours needs to be stronger than ever, especially after years of a government that found it more convenient to look the other way. Hopefully this time around, our government under its new leaders can do more to protect Filipino fishermen and interests in general when it comes to the disputed West Philippine Sea.*

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