'Ch boats block Ph fishers in Panatag'
By Nidz Godino
"Chinese coast guard is on standby outside, but Chinese rubber boats are patrolling area and preventing Filipino fishermen from entering lagoon," Bigkis ng mga Mangingisda Federation in Masinloc, Zambales spokesman Henrelito Empoc said in interview China Coast Guard has deployed rubber boats around Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal to prevent Filipino fisherfolk from entering lagoon.
Presence of Chinese vessels in Panatag further intensified in recent years, Bigkis stressed.
Empoc noted Chinese rubber boats tail Filipino fishermen once they try to enter lagoon.
"Chinese fishing vessels are free to fish in lagoon…we can prove to our authorities that harassment of Chinese coast guard has increased in last months," he said.
Empoc called on Philippine Navy and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to assist Filipino fishermen in Panatag.
" Filipino fishermen will be happy if that happens…there were times when foreign vessels entered our exclusive economic zone…they are near 80 nautical miles…we know foreign vessels have no right to enter water owned by Philippines," he said.
Revenues of fisherfolk have declined by 70 percent due to limited access to fishing grounds, Empoc noted.
"Before pandemic, Chinese already dropped floating barriers, although they were removed because of strong waves," he claimed.
PCG has vowed to "do whatever it takes" to remove any more floating barriers installed by China in South China Sea.
Floating barrier was found across entrance to shoal last week during routine Philippine government resupply mission to Filipino fishermen.
Coast Guard personnel cut rope tethering barrier to anchor, allowing it to drift.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier said government was "not looking for trouble" but he insisted it would "continue to defend Philippines, maritime territory of the Philippines, rights of our fishermen to ply their trade in areas where they have been fishing for hundreds of years."
Chinese Foreign Ministry on Sept. 30,2023 called United States "empire of lies" after US Department of State released report alleging Beijing spent billions of dollars annually for propaganda and disinformation to manipulate foreign information.
Report revealed China invested billions in false information to promote positive views of China and Chinese Communist Party.
" PRC ,People's Republic of China seeks to cultivate and uphold global incentive structure encourages foreign governments, elites, journalists and civil society to accept its preferred narratives and avoid criticizing its conduct, some in US may think that they can prevail in information war as long as they produce enough lies. ..but people of the world are not blind," report stated.
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