Manila Philippines — Following the summoning of the Department of Foreign Affairs to China’s Deputy Chief of Mission in Manila, the Chinese government announced the validity of the Arbitral Binding on the South China Sea.
The Chinese embassy in Manila said that there are temporary special arrangements that the two countries agreed upon in 2016 where there is only a part of South China that may serve as fishing grounds of Filipinos fishermen.
“…the Philippine side had abided by these agreements, and fishing by Philippine fishermen in designated areas off Huangyan Dao was not an issue,” China said.
Huangyan Dao or better known Scarborough Shoal (Bajo de Masinloc) is not included – the Chinese Official adds.
China also responded to the DFA’s statement and asserted that Scarborough Shoal is part of its territory.
“However, these arrangements are unilaterally disrupted by the current Philippine administration who dispatched its coast guard ships and official vessels to intrude a number of times into waters within 12 nautical miles of Huangyan Dao and encouraged the Filipino fishermen to challenge the arrangements to help promote its political agenda,” China added.
The Chinese government has once again warns the Philippines to refrain from interference and accused the Philippines of provocations as a cause of increasing tension in the Region.
On Thursday, DFA ordered the Chinese Vessels to leave the Scarborough Shoal at the same time they filed a protest regarding their water bombardment of the ships of the Philippine Coast Guard and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
At the same time as the DFA’s statement on the Philippines’ Foreign Policy in the West Ph Sea, China and the Philippines will remain allies but the government will continue to obey the Marcos administration’s desire that the Philippines will not give up even a small part of its territory.
It said that the Philippines will continue to recognize international rules based order such as the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2016 Arbitration Award on the South China sea.
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