China has no right to impose fishing regulations in WPS —NSC exec

The National Security Council (NSC) said on Monday that fishermen in Palawan can freely do their fishing activities in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) as China has no right to implement any regulations over the contested waters. 

NSC assistant director general Jonathan Malaya said that the agency recently met with 170 fisherfolk during the Northern Palawan Fishermen’s Congress in Coron. During the event, the fishermen expressed concern over their safety amid aggressions by Chinese vessels in the WPS. 

“Isa sa mga natanong nila, ‘Totoo bang mayroong moratorium sa pangingisda dahil naging announcement ng Chinese Coast Guard?’” said Malaya in Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon. 

(One of their concerns was, ‘Is it true that there is a moratorium on fishing as announced by the Chinese Coast Guard?’) 

“Sinabi namin, sa National Security Council, na walang ibang bansa na pwedeng magbigay ng regulasyon sa mga lugar na ‘yan kundi ang Philippine government lamang. Walang karapatan ang China na mag-impose ng anumang regulation sa pangingisda,” he added. 

(At the National Security Council, we told them that no country other than the Philippine government can impose a regulation in those areas. China has no right to impose any regulations on fishing.) 

The Philippine government earlier protested against the unilateral four-month fishing ban that took effect in May as it violates international law and undermines the country's sovereignty and maritime rights.

Despite the fishing moratorium, the Philippine Navy still spotted over 120 Chinese vessels in the WPS.'In June, the Philippines asked the United Nations to extend its boundary farther into the disputed West Philippine Sea by registering its entitlement to an extended continental shelf in the West Palawan Region. 

“We assured them of the support of the Philippine government kapag sila ay nandoon at nangingisda,” said Malaya. 

(We assured them of the support of the Philippine government if they were fishing there.) 

Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual shipborne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.

In 2016, an international arbitration tribunal in Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims in the South China Sea, saying that it had "no legal basis." China has not recognized the decision.—LDF, GMA Integrated News