3 Chinese vessels still at Scarborough Shoal, says DFA

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Friday said that three Chinese vessels were still in the lagoon at the disputed Scarborough Shoal and a net barrier barring fishermen from entering the lagoon had not been removed.

“We have a reconnaissance report. I think there are still three Chinese vessels there outside of the shoal and I think that impediment on the mouth of the shoal is still there,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Del Rosario said in an interview at the sidelines of the DFA’s reception of its Eid al-Fitr celebration in Pasay City.

In a text message, DFA Spokesperson Raul Hernandez said the report was based on an August 10 survey.

Asked whether Manila was planning to send ships back at the shoal, Del Rosario said that President Benigno Aquino III believed it was not the proper time “because of the very bad weather so we’re waiting for better conditions.”

Earlier this month, Defense Secretary Voltair Gazmin said that the Coast Guard had reported that the Chinese left a long rope held by buoys at both ends of the entrance to the lagoon of the horseshoe-shaped reef. He also said that the defense department was studying the steps to take about the rope.

Hernandez also said that China had been putting up barriers at the shoal  since May and that the country had been protesting the putting up of barriers “because they put it and take that out again.”

“So hopefully they take that out so we don’t have an issue on it anymore,” Hernandez said in earlier interviews.

The Philippines has said it would bring the territorial issue to a dispute settlement mechanism under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and that they would push through with the legal track with or without China’s approval.

Hernandez had also said consultations on the issue with Beijing had been done by Philippine Ambassador to China Sonia Brady.