25-9-2023 (MANILA) The Philippines has lodged a complaint against the China Coast Guard, accusing them of installing a “floating barrier” in a disputed area of the South China Sea. The barrier, according to the Philippine authorities, has prevented Filipino fishermen from accessing and fishing in the region.
Commodore Jay Tarriela, a spokesman for the Philippine Coast Guard, took to X, formerly Twitter, to condemn China’s actions. He stated that the Philippine Coast Guard and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources strongly condemn the installation of the barrier at a section of the Scarborough Shoal. The presence of the barrier has hindered the livelihoods and fishing activities of Filipino fishermen.
Commodore Tarriela expressed the commitment of the Philippine Coast Guard to collaborate closely with relevant government agencies to address these challenges, safeguard maritime rights, and protect the country’s maritime domains.
Requests for comment from the Chinese embassy in Manila went unanswered at the time of reporting.
PCG and BFAR Condemn CCG’s Installation of Floating Barrier in the Southeast of BDM Shoal
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) strongly condemn the China Coast Guard’s (CCG’s) installation of floating barrier in the Southeast… pic.twitter.com/ed4cFtXcQs
— Jay Tarriela (@jaytaryela) September 24, 2023
China asserts a 90% claim over the South China Sea, overlapping with the exclusive economic zones of Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, and the Philippines. In 2012, Beijing seized the Scarborough Shoal, forcing Filipino fishermen to venture farther for diminished catches. When bilateral relations improved significantly under former President Rodrigo Duterte, China allowed Filipino fishermen to return to the uninhabited shoal. However, tensions have escalated once again since the inauguration of Ferdinand Marcos Jr as Duterte’s successor in 2022.
During a routine patrol near Bajo de Masinloc, locally known as the Scarborough Shoal, personnel from the Philippine Coast Guard and fisheries bureau discovered the 300-meter long floating barrier. According to Commodore Tarriela, three Chinese Coast Guard rigid-hull inflatable boats and a Chinese maritime militia service boat installed the barrier when the Philippine vessel arrived.
Commodore Tarriela stated that Filipino fishermen have reported similar barriers being erected by China when monitoring a large number of fishermen in the area.
Upon the presence of media personnel aboard the Filipino vessel becoming apparent, the Chinese boats issued 15 radio challenges, accusing the Philippine ship and fishermen of violating international and Chinese laws before eventually moving away.
