Don't dictate to PH over seas, China told

From Rappler (May 30): Don't dictate to PH over seas, China told
 
So what if a Philippine ship sailed to Ayungin Shoal, a territory also claimed by China in a long-standing conflict over the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea)?

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday, May 30, asserted that the Philippines can do whatever it wants within its seas. “China is not in a position to dictate what the Philippines can do within its maritime domain,” DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez said in an interview with reporters.

Hernandez said China, in the first place, “has no right to be there.” He said Ayungin Shoal remains an “integral part” of Philippine territory.

The DFA spokesman said this after a meeting between Philippine Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Ma Keqing.

In this meeting, according to Gazmin, Ma said she was concerned that the Philippines was building additional structures on Ayungin Shoal. The defense chief, however, told Ma: “The ship that is moving toward Ayungin Shoal is only for provisions of food and water for the soldiers who are there.”

Hernandez, for his part, said the DFA has not received an official report on the meeting. He said the DFA, however, considers rotation of personnel and provisioning "a sovereign and humanitarian duty."

Ayungin, also known as Second Thomas Shoal, is within the Philippines' internationally recognized exclusive economic zone and is surrounded by waters rich for fishing.

Tension erupted over it after the Philippines protested against a Chinese warship circling the reef. The Philippines called the Chinese ship's presence “provocative and illegal.”

'Help PH fishermen'

The diplomatic problem has affected fishermen as well.

Hernandez said the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) is mandated “to help out our fishermen.”

“We don’t want to put our fishermen at risk and therefore, what is important is that they are able to fish in safe waters. And that’s why we have been asking China to withdraw and leave our exclusive economic zone because those areas are for Filipinos,” he said.

On Wednesday, May 29, BFAR bared plans to develop alternative fishing grounds. The agency said it will develop fishing in Benham Rise, a 13-million hectare area off the coast of Aurora province.

Benham Rise became part of Philippine territory in 2012 after the country secured the approval of the United Nations.

This is on the eastern side of the Philippines and is not subject to any territorial conflict.

 http://www.rappler.com/nation/30293-ayungin-shoal-dictate