Tag Archives: Scarborough Shoal

China to PH fishers: ‘Filipino, go!’

PANGASINAN FISHERMEN RECOUNT ORDEAL IN HANDS OF CHINESE COAST GUARD INFANTA, Pangasinan—“Filipino, go!” Those two words continue to ring loud in fisherman Romulo Ferrer’s ears, coming from a Chinese coast guard vessel that threateningly approached the fishing boat that Ferrer and seven other fishermen took to Scarborough Shoal, also known as Panatag Shoal, in the […]

AFP is still verifying floaters found off Zambales’ waters — Palace

MANILA, Philippines – Malacanang on Thursday said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is still verifying the floaters reportedly found off Zambales’ waters near the West Philippine Sea. Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the AFP is also confirming the statement of Justice Antonio Carpio that China is actually dredging […]

China claims U.S. ‘militarizing’ disputed sea

BEIJING – China’s Defense Ministry on Thursday accused the United States of “militarizing” the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) by staging patrols and joint military drills there, ramping up the rhetoric ahead of a key regional security meeting in Malaysia next week. China has repeatedly urged Washington not to take sides in the escalating […]

PH has ‘Plan B’ in case tribunal won’t hear case vs China

MANILA – The Philippines has a “plan B” in case a United Nations arbitral tribunal will decide it does not have jurisdiction over the Philippines’ case to protect its sovereignty over islands in the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea). “We have a plan B, but we can’t disclose options at this time considering how […]

Filipino fishermen seek UN Commission on Human Rights intervention against China

Filipino fishermen who are residents of Zambales towns Subic and Masinloc, backed by lawyers Harry L. Roque and Gilbert T. Andres, are requesting the United Nations Commission on Human Rights to urgently intervene, remind, and direct China and its state agents to respect the human rights of Filipino fisherfolks over their traditional fishing grounds and […]

For some Filipino fishermen, the South China Sea dispute is personal

MASINLOC, Philippines — When nations duel over reefs, rocks and islets, people are going to get hurt, and in the South China Sea dispute, that means the fishermen here who once wrested a living from the contested waters. Gunmen in a Chinese speedboat drove Macario Forones, for instance, away from a favorite spot called Scarborough […]

Zambales fishers explore suit vs China

OLONGAPO CITY—Fishermen in Zambales province, who were driven away by Chinese Coast Guard personnel from the Scarborough Shoal, have consulted a lawyer about a lawsuit against China for disrupting their livelihood. “We would like to go back to the shoal. It’s only there that we can fish to sustain our families. Artificial reefs are not […]

Chinese claim of South China Sea reclamation not causing damage unacceptable —DFA

(Updated 12:38 p.m.) The Philippines on Monday said it finds “unacceptable” China’s claim that its massive reclamation work in several disputed South China Sea territories are not causing marine environment damage, warning that that coastal states stand to lose $100 million annually from Beijing’s activities. China’s ongoing reclamation activities, Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said, […]

China wants to control South China Sea: Philippines

MANILA – The Philippines accused China on Thursday of seeking to take control of nearly the entire South China Sea with an expansionist agenda dominated by “massive reclamation” works. Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said China’s efforts were aimed at undermining a United Nations tribunal that is due to rule early next year on […]