MANILA, Philippines — Chinese vessels spotted in Philippine waters are not fishermen but ‘militia and poachers,’ foreign affairs secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said Wednesday.
Locsin made the statement after US-based think tank Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) showed satellite images proving that Chinese vessels were spotted near the Philippine-occupied Kota (Loaita Island) and Panata (Lankiam Cay) Islands in the West Philippine Sea in March and early April.
The foreign affairs secretary said the vessels were militia and poachers, not fishermen.
“The Chinese government is not protecting Chinese fishermen who just happen to swarm there information, okay?” Locsin said in a tweet.
“That’s militia and poachers acting in unison. Period. We’re not stupid or blind. Now we can talk about it. Frankly,” he added.
READ: Chinese sea militia swarms around Pag-asa Island – military
The Chinese govt is not protecting Chinese fishermen who just happen to swarm there in formation, okay? That's militia and poachers acting in unison. Period. We're not stupid or blind. Now we can talk about it. Frankly. No historical or hysterical claims; just law and friendship. https://t.co/J2NKggiBFo
— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) April 17, 2019
Locsin, however, said that he is eyeing to have a “fishing rule” even if the vessels spotted were not vessels belonging to fishermen.
“These are militia, no fishermen swarm in unison, okay? But yes we might consider negotiating fishing rules for such fishing as the Hague decision recognizes as open to all traditional fishing which excludes the militia,” Locsin said in a separate tweet as a response to another netizen.
These are militia, no fishermen swarm in unison, okay? But yes we might consider negotiating fishing rules for such fishing as the Hague decision recognizes as open to all traditional fishing which excludes the militia. https://t.co/QxYJXp4MDc
— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) April 16, 2019
A recent ABS-CBN News report indicated that Chinese fishermen have been poaching giant clams in Scarborough Shoal, which the Philippines claims part of its territory.
Following the incident, Locsin said China must pay for the giant clams as they harvested “our food.”
He added that the government would be taking “legal action” against China. /ee
READ: PH protests China’s harvest of giant clams