China said the Philippines should follow a one-China policy with the opening of a new Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) monitoring station in Batanes.
In a news briefing in Beijing, China’s Foreign Ministry Wang Wenbin called the attention of the Philippines regarding the new PCG station near Taiwan.
“We urge the Philippines to stay committed to the one-China policy,” Wang said.
The Philippines said Friday it had opened a coast guard post in the country’s far north to boost security following China’s “military build-up.”
The outpost in Itbayat, Batanes “shall gather essential maritime data and intelligence, enabling the (Philippine Coast Guard) to respond effectively to threats such as illicit trade, trafficking, piracy, and foreign intrusions,” National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano said in a statement.
Año defended the new monitoring station, citing the establishment of the outpost would boost the country’s maritime awareness, especially in the northern part of the country. “The establishment of the new monitoring station is a strategic move to enhance maritime domain awareness and strengthen security measures along Luzon Strait,” Año said.
PCG spokesperson for West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela echoed Año’s sentiment, saying the outpost would aid in observing vessels passing through the country’s territorial waters. “It will enable effective monitoring of vessels passing through the northernmost territory of the Philippines,” said Tarriela.
Lawmakers meanwhile promised to help thousands of fisherfolk in the province of Zambales pursue their fishing activities in Bajo de Masinloc and other areas despite the threat of bullying and harassment from China.
They made the commitment during the hearing of the House Committee on National Defense and Security and the Special Committee on the West Philippine Sea (WPS) on the supposed secret deal between former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the state of affairs in the WPS, which is part of the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
The hearing was jointly presided by Iloilo Rep. Raul Tupas, House Committee on National Defense chairman, and Senior Deputy Speaker and Pampanga Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr., who read a message from Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez.
In his message, Romualdez declared that Bajo de Masinloc, the traditional fishing ground of Zambales and Pangasinan fisherfolk, is inside the country’s EEZ and Filipinos should be free to fish there.
During the hearing, fishermen aired their experiences when they were water cannoned by the Chinese Coast Guard and their difficulty in fishing in the Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal, which the Chinese seized in 2012.
They also expressed their concerns for their safety. In particular, they are worried that the Chinese would carry out their threat to arrest them starting on June 15.
Gonzales and his colleagues promised the fishermen that they would relay their concerns to Speaker Romualdez and even to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr.
Zambales Rep. Jay Khonghun and other congressmen suggested that assistance from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) be tailored to the fisherfolk’s needs.
Khonghun said BFAR is giving fishermen “small fiberglass boats good for rivers while we need big vessels for the high seas.” He said Subic town in his district received one 20-foot boat from BFAR.
Rep. Dan Fernandez of Laguna suggested a program for fishermen similar to the public utility vehicle modernization project in Metro Manila.
In response, Zambales Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane informed lawmakers that the provincial government has already started a similar undertaking for fisherfolk.
Camiguin Rep. Jurdin Jesus Romualdo suggested that fisherfolk families should have other means of livelihood other than fishing.
Reps Robert Ace Barbers of Surigao del Norte and Johnny Pimentel of Surigao del Sur told the fishermen that the so-called Duterte-Xi agreement made the Chinese more aggressive in bullying and harassing the Filipinos.
Rep. Doris Maniquiz of Zambales and Masinloc Mayor Arsenia Lim thanked the lawmakers for conducting the hearing in their province and listening to her constituents.