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Binalaan ng China ang Pilipinas na huwag mag-interfere sa kanilang mga patrol sa Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal

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PCG screengrab at Panatag Shoal

Nagbabala ang China sa Pilipinas hinggil sa pag-interfere nito sa mga patrols sa Bajo de Masinloc, kung saan sinasabi nila na ang shoal ay bahagi ng teritoryo ng China.

Nauna nang iniulat ng Philippines Coast Guard na isang barko ng China Coast Guard (CCG) ang delikadong lumapit sa patrol ship nila malapit sa shoal sa isang “close distance maneuvering” na insidente noong Marso 2.

Sinabi ni Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin sa mga reporters sa Beijing noong Lunes na ang Panatag (o Scarborough) Shoal, kung saan ginamit niya Chinese name nito ay “inherent territory” ng China.

“China has sovereignty over Huangyan Dao and its adjacent waters as well as sovereign rights and jurisdiction over relevant waters,” aniya, batay sa ulat ng Inquirer.

“We hope that the Philippine ships will earnestly respect China’s sovereignty and rights and interests, abide by China’s domestic law and international law, and avoid interfering with the patrol and law enforcement of the China Coast Guard in the above-mentioned waters,” dagdag niya.

Ngunit, ito’y tinutulan ng Malacañang.

“The Philippine position is we continue to exercise full sovereignty over Bajo de Masinloc and its territorial sea, as well as sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the surrounding [exclusive economic zone] and continental shelf,” pahayag ni acting presidential spokesperson Martin Andanar.

Abide the 2016 Ruling

Samantala, sinabi ng fishers’ group, Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA), na dapat sumunod ang Beijing sa 2016 ruling.

“Beijing has no right to dictate who can stay and who will be ejected from the seas that they have no legal and political claim,” pahayag ng PAMALAKAYA.

“We assert to China our freedom of navigation, especially our right to fish in our territorial waters,” dagdag nila.

Gayunpaman, patuloy na tinatanggihan ng Beijing na i-recognize ang ruling.

Noong Linggo, iniulat ng PCG na ang CCG 3305 “came within 19 meters” ng BRP Malabrigo.

Ito na ang ika-apat na close encounter sa may shoal mula noong nakaraang taon at isang “clear violation” sa mga international regulations upang maiwasan ang collisions sa karagatan.

Wala pang pahayag ang Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) sa “risky maneuver” na ginawa ng CCG vessels.

(Inquirer)