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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider AFP rejects China's arrest policy, fishing ban in West Philippine Sea

AFP rejects China's arrest policy, fishing ban in West Philippine Sea

Published May 30, 2024 05:22 am

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) does not recognize China’s new policy of arresting what it described as “trespassers” in the West Philippine Sea and committed to support the national government’s efforts to protect Filipino fishermen.

AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said the military has the same stand when it comes to China's declaration of fishing ban from May 1 to Sept. 16 this year. 

But Padilla said their action will be limited to supporting Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) own law enforcement actions aimed at protecting Filipino fishermen.

“This (arrest policy) is unacceptable. But this is an issue of law enforcement and the AFP is not into law enforcement. But we will support the Philippine Coast Guard and the BFAR in their law enforcement activities,” said Padilla.

“The Armed Forces will continue on with our patrols and our focus is to make sure that our fishermen will continue performing their activities,” she added.

China earlier announced that it will be enforcing a policy of arresting trespassers and detaining them for up to 60 days without trial.

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro called China’s policy a provocation and clearly violates the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea or UNCLOS and the United Nations Charter.

“I believe what a provocation is is the roguish and irresponsible threat to detain ‘trespassers’ in what is claimed as internal waters but is actually part of the high seas and part of the West Philippine Sea,” Teodoro was quoted saying.

China has been claiming almost the entire South China Sea, a claim that was challenged by the Philippines before a United Nations Tribunal, which in turn, rejected the nine-dash line claim of China.

On the part of the AFP, it said it will just continue to conduct its regular patrol in the West Philippine Sea and called on Filipino fishermen to continue with its fishing activities within the Philippine territory. 

“We encourage them to continue on with their daily activities and we assure them that we will be supporting them. We will still be on patrols 24/7,” said Padilla.

 

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