Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya of the National Security Council. —Arnel Tacson, INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Filipino fishermen should continue fishing in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and not be mindful of China’s “scare tactics,” the government said, amid reports of continued Chinese harassment there.
“We do not want to give this too much attention because we know that these are all scare tactics, and the moment we raise this officially to the Chinese government, it… sort of [grants] acquiescence or recognition that they have that authority,” Jonathan Malaya, spokesperson for the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS), said at the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon press briefing on Monday.
Malaya, who is also assistant director general of the National Security Council, was referring to a new regulation by Beijing to be enforced on June 15 authorizing the China Coast Guard (CCG) to detain, for up to 60 days, “foreigners” crossing China’s supposed sea borders.
READ: China Coast Guard: We can detain trespassers
“In our view, this is all part of China’s scare tactics, like they are trying to intimidate or scare us. The position of the National Security Council is for us not to be intimidated, not to be defeated by that,” Malaya said.
“[We urge] our fishermen to continue their fishing activities in order to uphold our right over that area because the whole world knows that the West Philippine Sea is part of the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines,” he said.
Malaya noted that China had issued a similar regulation in 2021.
“It’s been how many years since then, so we [in the NTF-WPS] and the Philippine Coast Guard view this as an empty threat on the part of China,” he said.
“On the part of our naval assets, they will apply greater presence so they will be ready to respond and render assistance to our vessels,” he assured the fishermen.
‘You don’t have permission’
A video recorded by Zambales fisherman Johnric Butalid on May 13, as he ventured into Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, showed five members of the CCG on board a speedboat, with one of them addressing his crew through a megaphone: “Fishing vessel, stop this! We are Chinese Coast Guard, we are working here. You don’t have permission from the Chinese government to be here in the area. What you are doing is illegal.”
“We request you to take all your equipment and leave this area immediately. Take all your equipment right now,” the CCG said further.
“We heard that it is already possible to enter the lagoon. Some of our companions tried this on May 9 and they were able to fish there. But the next day they were blocked and [targeted] by laser [pointers],” Butalid, 25, told the Inquirer on Monday.
He and his crew were forced to return home with a small catch after being chased away by the CCG, he said, adding that as many as 20 Chinese ships were guarding Panatag at that time.
Last week, the “Atin Ito” (This is Ours) Coalition led a civilian mission to distribute fuel and other essential supplies to fishermen in Panatag area, with CCG vessels sailing some 2 kilometers away from the convoy.
Another fisherman, Joeffrey Elad, said he had to retreat from a recent fishing trip to Panatag after seeing Chinese militia vessels in that area.
“China has become more active in guarding the shoal. We cannot go back because of the situation there. They (CCG) don’t want us to come close,” he said.