China warned the Philippines that it will bear the consequences for allowing the flotilla of civilian ships to sail over Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal purportedly to assert the country’s territorial sovereignty over it.
Wang Wenbin, spokesman for China’s Foreign Ministry, stressed that any abuse to China’s goodwill to allow Filipino fishing boats in the West Philippine Sea will be met by Beijing’s response.
“China made a goodwill arrangement in 2016 for Filipino fishermen to fish with a small number of small fishing boats in the adjacent waters of Huangyan Dao, while China continues to oversee and monitor relevant activities of the Filipino fishermen in accordance with law,” Wang said, in a press conference Wednesday night.
“If the Philippines abuses China’s goodwill and infringes upon China’s territorial sovereignty and jurisdiction, we will defend our rights and take countermeasures in accordance with the law,” the Chinese official warned.
On Wednesday, five wooden-hulled commercial fishing ships and some 100 fishing boats set sail towards Bajo de Masinloc, a feature within the West Philippine Sea, which is expected to conclude within three days.
However, their mission did not go smoothly as at least two China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels were spotted tailing the convoy of the ships.
Beijing has been insisting that the West Philippine Sea is part of their territory, which includes Bajo de Masinloc.
The Scarborough Shoal has been a potential flashpoint since Beijing seized it from Manila in 2012.
The fish-rich reef is about 240 kilometers (150 miles) west of the Philippines’ main island of Luzon and nearly 900 kilometers from Hainan, the nearest major Chinese land mass.
China claims almost the entire South China Sea, brushing off rival claims by the Philippines and other countries and ignoring an international ruling that its assertion has no legal basis.
If the Philippines will act against it, Wang said: “Relevant responsibilities and consequences shall be borne solely by the Philippines.” – With AFP
