DND willing to escort Filipino fishermen

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 16): DND willing to escort Filipino fishermen

Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Voltaire Gazmin on Thursday said they would be more than willing to escort Filipino fishermen who earlier expressed fears that their fishing grounds would be included in the zone which China stressed permission was needed before any foreign vessel could enter.

"If the fishing area is in Philippine territory, we will not follow their rules," he added.

Gazmin also stressed that they were still waiting for China to issue a clarification regarding the above-mentioned China statement.

And if needed, the DND chief said that they would be more than willing to escort Filipino fishermen for them to continue to make a decent living.

"Why do we need to get permission from them if the fishing area is within our territory," the DND chief stressed.

The Philippines and other ASEAN countries are at odds with China regarding territorial claims on the fish and possibly oil rich waters of the South China Sea.

Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Raul Hernandez earlier said that they are verifying the above-mentioned report in its Beijing and Hanoi embassies.

The order was reportedly issued by Hainan provincial government and took effect last January 1st.

Under the regulation, foreign vessels entering the waters, which was declared by China as part of Hainan’s administrative maritime zone, are required to seek approval from Chinese authorities.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=605930