China to conduct Spratlys, Scarborough fishery patrols

From GMANews (Feb 25): China to conduct Spratlys, Scarborough fishery patrols

China will hold what it called "routine" fishery patrols around the disputed Spratly Islands as well as other disputed areas in the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea), according to a report posted Monday on China's government portal.

According to a Xinhuanet report, Wu Zhuang, chief of the South China Sea Fishery Bureau, said the routine fishery patrols in the Spratlys will be a "top priority" in 2013. Wu added that the patrols aim to safeguard the "legitimate interests of Chinese fishermen."

China will also "speed up" routine patrols especially near the Spratlys, while Chinese law enforcement staff will continue their "supervision" over the Huangyan Islands and Meiji Reef. Supervision over the Xisha islands and Beibu Gulf will also be intensified.

Regular fishery administrative patrols will be held in the South China Sea in 2014 as well.

In 2012, the Chinese Fishery Bureau's patrol ships stayed at sea for a record 183 days.

The Huangyan Islands are internationally known as Scarborough Shoal. The Philippines refers to the area as the Panatag Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc.

Last year, the Philippines and China confronted each other at the Panatag Shoal after Philippine officials caught Chinese fishermen taking marine species from the area.

On the other hand, the Philippines and China are two of six claimants to the Spratlys, the other claimants including Malaysia, Brunei, Taiwan, and Vietnam.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/296478/news/nation/china-to-conduct-spratlys-scarborough-fishery-patrols