In a recent development, the Philippines has lodged a strong accusation against China’s coast guard, alleging the installation of a substantial “floating barrier” in a contentious sector of the South China Sea. This contentious move, as stated by Manila’s coast guard and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, has effectively barred Filipino fishermen from accessing and engaging in their livelihood activities within the Scarborough Shoal.
Commodore Jay Tarriela, the spokesperson for the Philippines’ coast guard, expressed resolute condemnation through a social media platform, highlighting the impediment this barrier has placed on the Filipino fishing community. Tarriela reported that the barrier spans an estimated 300 meters (1,000 feet) in length, a considerable obstacle that was discovered during a routine patrol by Philippine coast guard and fisheries bureau personnel near the Scarborough Shoal, locally known as Bajo de Masinloc.
As this dispute unfolds, the Chinese embassy in Manila remains notably reticent, withholding any immediate comment on the matter. The broader context of this dispute is rooted in China’s assertion of sovereignty over a significant portion of the South China Sea, a claim that intersects with the exclusive economic zones of neighboring nations, including Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
The Scarborough Shoal, historically frequented by Filipino fishermen, fell under Chinese control in 2012, leading to Filipino fishermen having to venture farther for their catches. A positive turn occurred when then-President Rodrigo Duterte improved bilateral relations and allowed Filipino fishermen to return to this uninhabited shoal. However, since the inauguration of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as Duterte’s successor, tensions have resurfaced.
Commodore Tarriela disclosed that the installation of such barriers by China often coincides with the heightened monitoring of Filipino fishermen in the vicinity, exacerbating an already tense situation in this disputed region of the South China Sea. The implications of this recent dispute continue to reverberate in a complex geopolitical landscape.
By Reuters
