By Junex Doronio

THE PHILIPPINES’ LONGTIME ALLY and the world’s prime superpower United States of America has commended the brave act of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in removing the floating barrier in Scarborough Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.

The floating barrier was installed last week by the China Coast Guard and prevented Filipino fishermen from operating in the international common fishing ground.

Describing the removal of the floating barrier installed by CCG as “a bold step in defending their own sovereignty” on the part of the Philippines, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for South and Southeast Asia Lindsey Ford also reaffirmed Washington’s security commitments to its Asian ally during a congressional hearing on Thursday (Friday in the Philippines).

“The department has been incredibly clear that when it comes to our treaty commitments to the Philippines, we believe an armed attack against the Philippine Armed Forces, public vessels, and aircraft, apply to the South China Sea. That includes the Philippine Coast Guard,” Ford told a House of Representatives subcommittee on foreign affairs.

On Monday, September 25, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) removed the floating barrier put up by the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) following the order of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and National Security Adviser (NSA) Eduardo Año.

Notably, even retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio who once led the “anti-Marcos” 1Sambayan opposition coalition in 2022 is now supporting President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s move to strengthen the country’s alliances with other states amid China’s moves in the West Philippine Sea.

The Scarborough Shoal, locally known as Bajo de Masinloc, is 198 kilometers west of Subic Bay in Zambales province, thus part of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ), although China claims it otherwise.

“The 2016 Arbitral Award has affirmed that BDM is the traditional fishing ground of Filipino fishermen. Thus, any obstruction hindering the livelihoods of Filipino fisherfolk in the shoal violates international law. It also infringes on the Philippines’ sovereignty over BDM,” PCG Commodore Jay Tarriela earlier maintained.

Unfortunately, China refuses to honor the 2016 Arbitral Ruling up to this very day and has been making efforts to block supply ships from the Philippine Navy right inside territorial waters in the WPS several times recently.

(ai/mnm)

By Junex Doronio

“When you’re weak, pretend that you’re strong.” — Sun Tzu

APPARENTLY APPLYING THE “ART OF WAR” by military genius Sun Tzu, China just laughed at the removal by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) of the floating barrier installed by the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) in Scarborough Shoal following the marching order of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and National Security Adviser (NSA) Eduardo Año.

“What the Philippines did looks like nothing more than self-amusement,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said in a press conference on Wednesday, September 27.

Wang issued the statement when asked if it’s true that China removed the remnants of its floating barrier from the shoal as reported by the PCG and if China’s position on its claim over Scarborough Shoal has somehow changed.

“I would like to reiterate that Huangyan Dao (Scarborough Shoal) has always been China’s territory… China will continue to safeguard our territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests over Huangyan Dao (Scarborough Shoal),” he maintained.

Earlier, PCG Commodore Jay Tarriela said, “The decisive action of the PCG to remove the barrier aligns with international law and the Philippines’ sovereignty over the shoal.”

BDM or Scarborough Shoal, located 229.6 kilometers (124 nautical miles) away from Zambales province, is part of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and is considered one of the traditional fishing grounds for Filipinos.

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) defines an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) as generally extending 200 nautical miles from shore, within which the coastal state has the right to explore and exploit, and the responsibility to conserve and manage, both living and non-living resources.

“The 2016 Arbitral Award has affirmed that BDM is the traditional fishing ground of Filipino fishermen. Thus, any obstruction hindering the livelihoods of Filipino fisherfolk in the shoal violates international law. It also infringes on the Philippines’ sovereignty over BDM,” Tarriela pointed out. (ai/mnm)

Image Courtesy of BBC News

By Junex Doronio

HEEDING THE MARCHING ORDER of President and Commander-in-Chief Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Monday night bravely removed the dangerous floating barrier which it said the Chinese Coast Guard placed in the southeast portion of the Bajo de Masinloc (BDM) or Scarborough Shoal, well within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Posting on X (formerly Twitter), PCG Commodore Jay Tarriela said, “The decisive action of the PCG to remove the barrier aligns with international law and the Philippines’ sovereignty over the shoal.”

Located 229.6 kilometers (124 nautical miles) away from Zambales province, the BDM or Scarborough Shoal is part of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and is considered one of the traditional fishing grounds for Filipinos.

“The 2016 Arbitral Award has affirmed that BDM is the traditional fishing ground of Filipino fishermen. Thus, any obstruction hindering the livelihoods of Filipino fisherfolk in the shoal violates international law. It also infringes on the Philippines’ sovereignty over BDM,” Tarriela stressed.

On Monday evening, September 25, the PCG conducted a special operation to remove the “hazardous floating barrier” in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) upon the instructions of President Marcos and Año, who also heads the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea.

But China argued that Scarborough Shoal, which it calls Huangyan Dao, has always been its territory, and thus it has “indisputable sovereignty” over the island. (ai/mnm)

Ni Liezelle Soriano

SINABI ni Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla na maaaring alisin ng pamahalaan ng Pilipinas ang floating barrier na nasa timog-silangang bahagi ng Scarborough Shoal kung ito ay nasa loob ng Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

“Well, if it is within our economic zone, exclusive economic zone, then we will just declare it to be such and that it’s a violation of our right to exclusive economic zone, and we can remove the same,” ani Remulla.

Naglagay ang Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) ng floating barrier sa timog-silangang bahagi ng Scarborough Shoal.

Sinabi ng Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) na ang floating barrier, na tinatayang may haba na halos isang kilometro, ay nakita ng mga tauhan nito at ng Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) noong Biyernes, Setyembre 22, 2023.

Binigyang-diin ni Remulla ang barrier ay nakasagabal sa mga aktibidad ng bansa.

“That’s interfering with something that has been granted to us in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. If it is within our exclusive economic zone, then that is an interference in our activities,” ayon kay Remulla. (ai/mnm)

By Junex Doronio

TO REMOVE OR NOT TO REMOVE the floating barrier allegedly installed by China in Scarborough Shoal?

This is the nagging question that must be answered by the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) and President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. who’s also the Commander-in-Chief.

On Monday, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for the WPS Commodore Jay Tarriela noted that the diplomatic process needs to be done in connection with the floating barrier.

“Should the NTF-WPS recommend to the President kung ano man ang gagawin nating action dito (whatever the action is), the PCG, BFAR [Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources], and even the Armed Forces of the Philippines will comply kung ano man ang magiging desisyon dito ng ating (whatever the decision is of our) national government,” Tarriela said in his interview with GMA Integrated News’ Unang Balita.

He clarified that the PCG has yet to consult with PBBM and the national government regarding what must be done to the floating barrier.

“We gave the report already to the NTF-WPS wherein the Department of Justice, Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of National Defense are all part of this inter-agency task force and chaired by the National Security Adviser,” Tarriela disclosed. (ai/mnm)

Image Screengrab from Philippine Coast Guard‘s Video

THE Philippines has strongly rebuked China for placing a “floating barrier” in the South China Sea, alleging that it obstructs Filipino fishing boats from entering the disputed region.

According to Jay Tarriela, the spokesperson for the Philippine coast guard, this barrier was discovered during a routine maritime patrol last Friday.

The barrier, stretching approximately 300 meters (984 feet or nearly 1 km), has drawn condemnation from both the Philippine coast guard and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.

In a statement shared on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Tarriela expressed the Philippine Coast Guard’s strong disapproval. He emphasized that the barrier, located in the southeastern part of Bajo de Masinloc, effectively prevents Filipino fishing vessels from accessing the shoal, depriving them of their crucial fishing activities and livelihood.

Backed by photographic evidence, Tarriela claimed that three Chinese coast guard vessels and a Chinese maritime militia service boat had erected the barrier after a Philippine government vessel arrived in the area.

Earlier that week, the Philippine coast guard had shared footage showing extensive damage to coral reefs, leading to accusations that China was responsible for severe environmental harm in the region.

Tarriela asserted that the “uncontrolled, illegal, and destructive fishing activities of the Chinese maritime militia” in Rozul Reef and Escoda Shoal directly contributed to the degradation and devastation of marine ecosystems in the West Philippine Sea.

He also suggested that the presence of crushed corals indicated potential dumping, possibly involving the same corals that were previously extracted, processed, and then returned to the seabed.

In response to inquiries regarding the coral destruction, China’s foreign ministry dismissed the allegations as “unfounded and baseless” during a regular briefing, urging Philippine authorities not to use fabricated information for political purposes.

Filipino fishermen have reported that Chinese vessels typically deploy floating barriers when they observe a significant number of Filipino fishermen in the area.

As of now, China has not issued a public statement on this matter. (ai/mnm)