Manila, 1 May 2023 (GNP): The President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, has announced that China has agreed to engage in discussions regarding fishing rights in the South China Sea. Marcos emphasized the need for direct communication with Beijing in resolving maritime disputes and has requested that the Philippine Coast Guard and the Department of Foreign Affairs create a map of the fishing grounds, which will be presented to China.
During a flight to Washington Ferdinand, expressed the need for a direct communication line between the Philippines and China, especially in light of recent maritime confrontations. Marcos emphasized the importance of protecting their maritime territory, and he urged for a dialogue to resolve differences between the two countries. The Chinese embassy in Manila has not provided any comments on the matter yet.
The Philippines has accused China’s coast guard of using aggressive tactics in a recent incident near the Second Thomas Shoal, which has been a site of conflict in the past.
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The US has called on China to stop harassing Philippines vessels in the South China Sea. The US has promised to support the Philippines during a period of tense geopolitical relations. The State Department of the US has released a statement urging Beijing to stop its dangerous and provocative actions. The United States is committed to supporting the Philippines and its efforts to maintain an international maritime system based on established rules and principles.
China has responded by saying that it is willing to resolve maritime disputes through friendly consultations, but it also warned the US against interfering. Ferdinand expressed concern that such incidents could result in casualties.
China claims most of the South China Sea, including the waters within the exclusive economic zones of several other countries. The disputed area in question is a vast expanse of water spanning over 1,500 km from China’s mainland, and it overlaps with the exclusive economic zones of neighboring countries such as Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia.
A ruling by an international arbitration tribunal in 2016 rejected China’s claims to this area, stating that the basis of their claim was not legally valid.
