📷 gCaptain
AS if water cannons aren’t enough, China – which has been claiming the entire South China Sea, is dead set on arresting “trespassers” amid an escalating tension in the disputed territorial waters well within the 200-nautical mile Philippine exclusive economic zone.
In an article published by the South China Morning Post, China is reportedly bent on implementing the new regulation which will be carried out by its Coast Guard.
“Beijing has fleshed out the Chinese coastguard’s powers to detain foreigners suspected of illegally crossing borders, rolling out regulations on Wednesday that stipulate suspects can be held for up to 60 days without trial, amid rising tensions in the South China Sea,” reads part of the China Morning Post article.
Previously, a civilian convoy of over 100 wooden boats sailed at the West Philippine Sea to farm out food, water and fuel to local fishermen near the Scarborough Shoal and at the same time assert Philippine rights in the disputed maritime region.
Weeks before the civilian mission, China Coast Guard vessels shoved (using water cannons) two Philippine government boats near Scarborough Shoal.
Interestingly, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said that they are not in any way intimidated by what they aptly referred to as another tactic to dissuade Filipinos from “risking arrest.”
“This rule only sought to discourage Filipinos from doing legitimate activities in the West Philippine Sea. Isa na namang pananakot ito ng Chinese government, to discourage these kinds of activities,” PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela said in a statement.
“Definitely these are things na masasabi nating illegal na aksyon ng China. The mere fact that they claim all sovereignty over our own exclusive economic zone at ang dyina-justify lang naman nila ay yung imaginary nine-dash line nila. Definitely it is not only the Philippines that will be affected by this kind of domestic law na ginawa nila,” Tarriela averred.
Tarriela also raised doubt if China would dare do anything that would adversely affect their standing in the international community.
“I don’t think China is really serious in doing this because mas malaki ang magiging backlash nito sa kanila bilang isang bansa and most likely more countries would really criticize and stand up against this kind of illegal domestic law that they passed without considering the implication on international law,” Tarriela added.
“For me, I am certain that the Chinese Coast Guard has just passed this kind of domestic law to intimidate civil society, private practitioners or even ordinary fishermen na maglayag.”
Nonetheless, he assured that the PCG would not renege on its mandate – protect the national interest and its people. (ANGEL F. JOSE)
