BFAR chief: Overlapping waters with Taiwan no excuse for territory claim

Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Director Asis Perez on Wednesday clarified that waters off Batanes' coast were still part of the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) despite overlapping with Taiwan's EEZ.

"Lumalabas na may overlapping... Kung susukatin mo yung 200 miles mula dun sa pinaka-dulong isla ng Itbayat, sakop ng Exclusive Economic Zone ng Pilipinas kahit yung dagat mismo ng mainland Taipei," Perez told GMA News TV's "News To Go" in an interview.

The BFAR director said this technicality caused most of the recent confrontation between the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration (CGA).



Perez said the dispute could not easily be resolved due to the One-China policy, which prevents the Philippines from establishing direct diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

"Hindi ganoon ka-simple ang usapin sa Taipei. Wala tayong existing diplomatic relations with them... Doon sa puntong iyon, 'yun ang kailangang ayusin in a different way at yung mga informal na usapan lang ang nangyayari diyan," he said.

Perez remained firm over the Philippines' claim over the waters off Itbayat, Batanes, due to its inclusion in the country's 200-mile EEZ.

"Siyempre, ang Pilipinas hindi pumapayag sa pusisyon na iyon lalong-lalo na at ang lugar kung saan natin nakikita yung mangingisdang taga-Taiwan ay talaga namang sakop ng ating teritoryo," he said.

Perez' clarification came after an official from Taiwan's coast guard insisted its ship was within Taiwan's territorial waters following the June 6 stand-off between the PCG Guard and CGA.

The Philippines and Taiwan are now working on a law enforcement and fisheries agreement to prevent further hostile incidents on the rich fishing grounds.

Relations between the two country soured in 2013 when a PCG killed a fisherman after it opened fire on a Taiwanese fishing boat. —Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News