Troops ready to secure Pinoy fishermen amid China rules

FORT MAGSAYSAY, Nueva Ecija - The government is ready to provide security escort to Filipino fishermen who will operate in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) as it continues to ignore China’s new fishing policy in the disputed area.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said the Philippines would disregard the rules set by China, which has been shoring up its presence in the region.

“We have the capability to secure them (fishermen). As said before, we will not follow their rules in our own territory,” Gazmin told reporters Thursday on the sidelines of the anniversary of the Special Operations Command.

“Why do we have to secure permission from other countries when they do not own our fishing grounds?” he added.

When asked if the government would provide escort to fishermen if the need arises, Gazmin said: “Kung kinakailangan (if necessary).”

“We are seeking clarification regarding their (China rules),” he added.

China is seeking to enforce a new law requiring foreign fishing boats to seek its permission before operating in the West Philippine Sea.

The new law issued by the Hainan Provincial People’s Congress took effect last month and covered two million hectares of the area.

Officials said they would disregard the law, the latest effort by China to assert its territorial claim.

The Philippines has warned that the fishing policy could escalate tensions in the West Philippine Sea.

It added that the fishery law, which reinforces China’s expansive claim under the nine-dash line, is “a gross violation of the international law.”

China’s nine-dash line covers more than 100 islets, atolls and reefs and overlaps with the claims of the Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan, Brunei and Vietnam.

On Wednesday, Armed Forces chief Gen. Emmanuel Bautista said Filipino fishermen should not give in to China’s threats or intimidations.

He said the fishermen should stand up for their rights.

“Let’s put it this way: should we give in to terror? to threats and intimidation? Should we? We should not. Should we give in to threats, intimidation, terror, violence of any armed group in our country? We should stand up for our rights as a people,” Bautista said.

“We just go on with our normal lives. We have brought the case for international arbitration and we will continue to do that, pursue that. We will continue with our mandate also,” he added.

'A superpower should stand up against China’

Meanwhile, Gazmin said a superpower like the United States (US) should stand up against China’s aggressive acts.

“Someone has to demonstrate strength because China has been very aggressive lately. It started with the ADIZ (air defense identification zone), and now the fishing laws,” the defense chief said.

“Somebody has to say, hey, slow down, and no one can do that except a superpower,” he added.

Gazmin was asked to react to statements by US lawmakers who scored China’s propensity to use coercion and bullying to protect its interests in the West Philippine Sea.

Republican Rep. Steve Chabot said China is “dangerously trying to take disputed territories by gradual force with the “misguided hope that Japan, Southeast Asian nations and the US will just grudgingly accept it.”

Democratic Rep. Ami Bera cited the need for a strong bipartisan message from Congress against China’s provocative moves.

Republican Rep. Randy Forbes meanwhile said the US must not tolerate China’s efforts to alter the status quo in the region.

Gazmin said China is projecting itself as a super power but applies its strength on small counties like the Philippines.

“We need somebody or a big country to say that such things should not be done,” he said.