China likes the idea of a Panatag Shoal marine sanctuary, just like what the Philippines envisioned. This is what the Philippine government announced on Sunday, claiming China was open to President Rodrigo Duterte’s plan about the place.
“Sabi niya (China president), ‘We will mobilize government forces to promote our agreements, step up guidance to create a favorable environment,'” Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said, quoting Chinese President Xi Jinping, during an interview with “Unang Balita,” a morning news TV program of GMA 7.
Moreover, the South China Morning Post, a Hong Kong based broadsheet, said that President Xi assured that access to the shoal by Filipino fishermen would continue, adding that President Duterte should “actively mull maritime cooperation and promote positive interaction on the sea.”
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Earlier on, Duterte had aired the idea with Xi about turning the shoal into a marine sanctuary. The idea is to ban all fishing activities inside the shoal, though not around it. The two leaders met in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit held in Peru. The Panatag Shoal, otherwise known as Scarborough, is among the disputed territories in the West Philippine Sea. Both China and the Philippines lay claim to it.
Meanwhile, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon explained how a shoal sanctuary idea would effectively diffuse the tension in the area, especially with the present territorial dispute with China.
Esperon speculated: “Ang mangyayari kasi pag ginawa mong, ‘Win ako, lose ka’, walang mangyayari dun. Kailangan, lumalabas na outcome ay win-win.” [If you insist on an “I win, you lose,” scenario, everything will just end up in a standstill. The needed outcome should be win-win].
The International Court of Arbitration had decided in favor of the Philippines in July, concluding that China’s claim in the area was baseless. But China trashed the decision and refused to give in, insisting its supposed sovereignty in the area. As a result, China barred the fishing grounds frequented by Philippine fishermen in the West Philippine Sea and harshly shooed them off with its coastguards.
Other countries, especially the US, aired their warnings against China bullying the Philippines on the matter, further increasing the tension in the region.
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But a major breakthrough happened after Duterte’s state visit to China in October. China softened its stance and soon Philippine fishermen found the fishing area around Scarborough Shoal accessible again without being barred by Chinese coastguards.
Duterte critics, however, feared that such a situation only confirmed China’s sovereignty in the area, only granting us access like how a superpower would grant favors to its vassal states.
Source: (gmanetwork.com)
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