Manila: President Rodrigo Duterte is poised to declare the Scarborough Shoal as a marine sanctuary to keep the area off limits to fishing activity by Filipino fishers as well as foreigners, particularly the Chinese.
According to National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr., the President will soon sign an executive order declaring the lagoon in the Scarborough Shoal (referred to in the Philippines as Panatag Shoal) as a “no fishing zone.”
The executive order will essentially be a unilateral declaration of the Philippines in a matter concerning another country, China.
Located a mere 250 kilometres from the Philippine coast, the shoal has long been a subject of a territorial dispute between Manila and Beijing.
It is a traditional fishing ground for Filipino fishermen. However, it had been off-limits to them as Chinese Coast Guard securing the area would harass them if they get anywhere near the location.
Conditions changed however after Duterte brought the plight of Filipino fishermen to his Chinese counterpart during his state visit to China in October.
Fishers from the Philippines can now access and fish at Scarborough Shoal without experiencing harassment or being shooed away.
Esperon was quoted as saying during the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Meeting in Peru, that it is the position of the Philippine government to continue the ban on fishing activities inside the shoal.
“At present, there are two coast guard ships of the Chinese and a naval vessel guarding the area. Our position is to make the area a sanctuary,” Esperon, a former Philippine armed forces chief said.
According to Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, China’s President Xi Jinping is optimistic that the situation could be resolved.
“We hope something favourable would result out of this situation. We will mobilise government forces to promote our agreements, step up guidance to create a favourable environment.
According to Secretary Ramon Lopez, Duterte is discussing the matter on the Scarborough Shoal on a personal level with Xi.
He said the two Asian leaders seemed to have established a good rapport, boding well for a renewed friendship between the Philippines and China.
“I guess on a personal level as well as at an official level, the two leaders are resolving the issue. With that renewed friendship, it really opened up a lot of opportunities. Now, we are talking of economic cooperation, previously this topic was not discussed,” Lopez said.
China had been claiming a large part of the South China Sea as part of its exclusive economic zone.
The Philippine government, during the past administration under Benigno Aquino III. had brought the matter of overlapping territorial claims before the UN Arbitral Tribunal two years ago. While the tribunal’s recent decision favoured Manila Filipino fishermen cannot venture in areas of the South China Sea claimed by Beijing without China’s permission.
