Malacañang declared on Wednesday that it would ‘never respect China’s nine-dash claim’ in the South China Sea and that no one – especially not Beijing – can prevent Filipino fishermen from plying the country’s waters.

“[We will never respect it because] it’s a derogation of international laws. Nine-dash line is something we cannot accept,” said presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda.

Lacierda said China’s encompassing claim was precisely why Manila filed an arbitration case on the issue before the UN International Tribunal on the Law of the Seas.

“The nine-dash line is not consistent with international laws. It is not consistent with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas,” he stressed.

He added that Filipino fishermen cannot be barred from fishing within Philippine waters.

“We believe in the principle that what is ours is ours, and so we will continue to push that,” Lacierda said.

The country has already filed a protest against China after Beijing Coast Guard personnel blocked two Philippine ships from entering Ayungin Shoal, a month after it protested China’s similar provocative action in Bajo de Masinloc or Panatag Shoal.

Read more: http://manilastandardtoday.com/2014/03/13/govt-will-never-accept-china-s-9-dash-line/