The Philippines asked China yesterday to take action against its fishermen collecting corals in the disputed Scarborough Schoal, citing three international conventions prohibiting such activity.
Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Lauro Baja Jr. said his department also urged China to prevent its fishermen from entering the shoal to prevent tension in the area, especially now that both countries are preparing for the visit of President Estrada to China in May.
When Chinese Prime Minister Zhu Rongji came to Manila last November, the Philippine government, in respect for his visit, did its best to remove a Navy ship that accidentally ran aground in the shoal.
In a diplomatic protest sent to the Chinese Embassy, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) cited the Convention on Biological Diversity of 1993, the RAMSAR Convention of 1971 and the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna of 1975 as the international laws barring the collection of corals in the area.
China is a signatory to all three international conventions.
In the note verbale, the DFA also expressed serious concern over the intrusion of the six Chinese fishing vessels in the shoal early this month.
Baja, however, said Chinese Ambassador Fu Ying doubted the Philippine military's claim that the Chinese fishermen were collecting corals, saying what they saw were probably piles of baskets used in fishing.
Despite the denial, Baja said the DFA had to consider the accounts of the Department of Defense that the Chinese fishing boats were loaded with corals.
Baja said the Philippines would have to assert its territorial claim over Scarborough Shoal and that fishing activities by the Chinese in the area violates this claim.
He said the Philippines also reminded China of an agreement that both countries should refrain from any activities in the area to avoid tension.
China, for its part, expressed strong concern over Philippine efforts to expel Chinese fishing boats from the shoal, saying this "seriously hampered the peaceful productive activities" of Chinese fishermen.
But Siazon and Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado said the Philippine Navy would continue to patrol the shoal.
Last Jan. 6, a Navy patrol ship, PS 70, sighted six Chinese fishing vessels in the shoal. Three of the vessels managed to flee, but the rest, upon inspection, were found to be loaded with corals.
Baja said the DFA asked the defense department to verify if the six vessels had left the area. "Our fear is that the ships are still there," he said.