The Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) should not be entrusted with the responsibilities of enforcing maritime laws in relation to its commitment to the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) for conservation and management of highly migratory fish stocks, an official of the Philippine Coast Guard said on Thursday, Aug 15.

Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, issued the statement after revealing video footage showing personnel of a CCG vessel closely interacting with the people on board a group of Chinese Maritime Militia at the Escoda Shoal.

“This situation highlights that the CCG should not be entrusted with the responsibilities of the WCPFC to board fishing vessels, as their true objective is not to combat illegal, unreported, or unregulated fishing (IUUF),” Tarriela said in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter).

“The PRC's (Peoples Republic of China) aim appears to be the innovative legitimization of its unlawful presence and activities in the West Philippine Sea, disguised under the pretense of maritime law enforcement,” he added.

In its website, it stated that the WCPFC was established by the Convention for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPF Convention) which entered into force on June 19, 2004.

Member-countries are Australia, China, Canada, Cook Islands, European Union, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, France, Indonesia, Japan, Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Republic of Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Chinese Taipei, Tonga, Tuvalu, United States of America, Vanuatu.

“The WCPFC Convention seeks to address problems in the management of high seas fisheries resulting from unregulated fishing, over-capitalization, excessive fleet capacity, vessel re-flagging to escape controls, insufficiently selective gear, unreliable databases and insufficient multilateral cooperation in respect to conservation and management of highly migratory fish stocks,” a statement under the “About WCPFC read.

“A framework for the participation of fishing entities in the Commission which legally binds fishing entities to the provisions of the Convention, participation by territories and possessions in the work of the Commission, recognition of special requirements of developing States, and cooperation with other Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMO) whose respective areas of competence overlap with the WCPFC reflect the unique geo-political environment in which the Commission operates,” it added.

Tarriela said that the CCG vessel 5303 is registered by the People's Republic of China on the WCPFC Register of Authorized Inspection Vessels. 

But instead of boarding the CMM’s that were gathering within the shoal in compliance with fishery laws, Tarriela said the CCG personnel “interacted with the crew of the CMM as if they were familiar acquaintances, sharing meals together.”

“It is evident that no formal boarding procedures were carried out by the CCG to question the CMM’s intentions, despite their prolonged presence without any signs of fishing,” said Tarriela. 

Such behavior, according to Tarriela, only means that Chinese Maritime Militia is recognized by the Chinese Coast Guard as an integral part of their maritime operations.

He said that the Chinese Maritime Militia is the CCG aiding in encroaching upon the Exclusive Economic Zones of other countries throughout the South China Sea. 

“These state-subsidized maritime militia support the CCG and the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) in intimidating neighboring maritime states such as Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines,” Tarriela said.