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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Alleged cutting of 'payaw' by Chinese in WPS warrants diplomatic protest--Tolentino

Alleged cutting of 'payaw' by Chinese in WPS warrants diplomatic protest--Tolentino

Published Apr 18, 2024 10:46 am

At A Glance

  • Senator Francis Tolentino has weighed in on the alleged cutting of "payaw" or fish aggregating device by the Chinese, and says that it warrants a diplomatic protest from the Philippines. 

Senator Francis Tolentino has weighed in on the alleged cutting of "payaw" or fish aggregating device by the Chinese, and says that it warrants a diplomatic protest from the Philippines.

It was the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) that helped install the payaw to help out Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

“If that is true (Chinese cutting the payaw), that’s another ground for filing a diplomatic protest. But just the same, it must not deter BFAR from putting up more payaw in the future. Let us install it again,” Tolentino said in mixed Tagalog and English during a press conference on Thursday, April 18.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported in 2023 that the Philippines had already filed 444 diplomatic protests against Chinese illegal activities in the WPS since 2020. China hasn't acted on these protests.

“We can file a case against an international body relative to 'thief' because it’s like they have stolen our property. Let us continue what we are doing now,” Tolentino added.

He further said that the Chinese should return the payaw that they cut and removed based on the inventory of how many were lost.

Tolentino surmised that China could have been agitated by the ongoing Philippine-United States (US) Balikatan exercises in the WPS and by the Philippines' continuous strengthening of alliances with other countries.

He revealed that representatives from 14 countries, including Japan, South Korea, India, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia, Germany, and New Zealand, are currently observing the PH-US Balikatan.

Responding to the Chinese Embassy's statement warning the Philippines to stop provocative actions in the WPS, Tolentino asserted that no country can dictate to the Philippines what it does in its territory.

“How can one country dictate to another country what to do? We can do whatever we want to do in accordance with international law. That’s an exercise of sovereignty,” he said.

Related Tags

chinese government Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Senator Francis Tolentino West Philippine Sea (WPS)
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