China has stopped harassing Filipino fishermen in Scarborough —officials

From GMA News (May 21): China has stopped harassing Filipino fishermen in Scarborough —officials

Filipinos can now fish in the disputed Scarborough Shoal without being harassed by Chinese authorities, officials said Saturday.

"Ngayon ang sitwasyon sa Scarborough Shoal ay nagkakaroon ng pagbabago. Ang mga mangingisda natin ay hindi na nakakaranas ng matinding harassment sa Chinese coast guard," Professor Rommel Banlaoi, chairman and executive director of the Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research, told radio dzBB in an interview.

Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources director Asis Perez confirmed to dzBB in another interview that Filipinos are now freely fishing in the shoal.

"Wala po tayong naririnig [na reklamo] ngayon. That can be an indication na wala pong nangyayaring adverse o hindi magandang nangyayari sa mga mangingisda," Perez added.

Banlaoi that it could be the result of his group's continuous negotiations with their counterparts in China.

He said that the Philippines has been asking the Chinese to allow Filipinos to fish in the shoal as a gesture of their sincerity in declarations that they want to peacefully resolve the territorial dispute.

He also attributed the softer stance of the Chinese in the disputed shoal to the perceived "paradigm shift" of the Philippines-China relations under the administration of incoming President Rodrigo Duterte.

Banlaoi said that he believes Duterte intends to repair the damaged relationship of China and the Philippines due to disputes over some territories in the South China Sea, including the Scarborough Shoal, called Panatag Shoal and Bajo de Masinloc by the Philippines.

Duterte has said that he is open to returning to bilateral talks with China on the territorial disputes.

Duterte has met with Chinese ambassador Zhao Jianhua in Davao City.

Banlaoi also believes that Duterte will not move to withdraw, but will not push the Philippines' case before the Permanent Court of Arbitration against China.

"Hindi niya iwi-withdraw ang posisyon sa international tribunal, pero 'di niya itututlak ito dahil ang [intensyon] niya ay to repair the damaged relations," he said.

"KUng hindi magtagumpay ang bilateral... bubuhayin ang [kaso] sa international tribunal at gagamitin niyang leverage," Banlaoi added.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/567118/news/nation/china-has-stopped-harassing-filipino-fishermen-in-scarborough-officials