Marcos: Xi promised solution to allow Filipinos to fish in 'natural fishing grounds'

BEIJING—President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Wednesday raised the plight of Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea in his bilateral meeting with his Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People here.

Marcos said they agreed to find a compromise and find measures that will be beneficial to Filipino fishermen.

“I was very clear in trying to talk about the plight of our fishermen," Marcos said of his discussion with Xi.

"The President promised that we would find a compromise and find a solution that will be beneficial so that our fishermen might be able to fish again in their natural fishing grounds,” he added.

President Xi committed to deepen cooperation with the Philippine government as he also wants to develop bilateral ties with Manila.

"Mr. President, your current trip is a trip to honor history, but more importantly, it is to open up the future. I look forward to having discussions with you to carry forward the friendship and further promote [our] bilateral relationship," Xi told Marcos.

"Together, let's deepen cooperation and draw out a blueprint with China-Philippines cooperation in the new era. This way, we will bring more benefits to our people and contribute to peace and stability in the region," he added.

During Marcos' state visit to Beijing, the two countries signed an agreement for the establishment of a communication mechanism on maritime issues between the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) of the Philippines and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China.

This deal is meant to prevent miscommunications and misunderstandings in the West Philippine Sea.

Diplomatic protests have been filed over the past years over the alleged harassment by the Chinese of Filipino fishermen.

The Philippines in February 2015 lodged two diplomatic protests against China’s alleged harassment of Filipino fishermen off the Manila-claimed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea and its illegal harvest of endangered species in the same area.

The DFA said three Philippine-flagged fishing vessels “were intentionally rammed” by Chinese Coast Guard Vessel 3412 on January 29 at the shoal, “causing damage to the vessels and endangering the lives and safety of the Filipino fishermen on board.”

The Philippines in August 2020 filed a diplomatic protest against China for confiscating fish aggregating devices installed by Filipino fishermen in Scarborough Shoal off the country's southwestern waters.

Manila called the Chinese Coast Guard's action of taking away the devices "illegal."

The incident at the shoal, which lies 124 nautical miles off the nearest Philippine landmass of Palawan, occurred in May 2020

The DFA in May 2022 protested China's unilateral fishing ban in the disputed South China Sea, where the Philippines and other neighboring Asian states have overlapping claims.

This developed after China imposed a three-and-a-half-month fishing moratorium "in areas of the South China Sea north of the 12 degrees North latitude."

Manila said it did not recognize China’s fishing moratorium from May 1 to August 16 as it covered waters in areas where the Philippines exercises "sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction.”

“On the political front, we also discuss what we can forward to avoid any possible mistakes, misunderstandings that could trigger a bigger problem than what we already have,” Marcos said.

Marcos said he was optimistic as Xi seemed genuinely interested in all of the issues tackled during the meeting.

“I am quite gratified that we've made a good start, but it is, the start," Marcos said.

He said he had instructed Foreign Affairs Secretary Ricky Manalo and Ambassador to China Jaime FlorCruz "to pursue the subjects that we had discussed and to make sure that they are not, they do not remain in the wind but will actually come to fruition."

Marcos said the results of the discussions should be felt by both our people by both China, both the Philippines and both our peoples to mutual benefit. —NB, GMA Integrated News