CHINESE Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin said in a press briefing that the Philippines had sent five commercial fishing boats with 200 people on board to the waters off Huangyan Dao, also known as the Scarborough Shoal, on the same day to proclaim their rights over the adjacent waters.
Wang emphasized that China had made arrangements out of goodwill with a couple of Filipino fisherfolk in the area.
“In 2016, China made arrangements out of goodwill for a small number of small Philippine fishing boats to carry out normal fishing activities in the waters near Huangyan Dao, and at the same time China exercised management and supervision over the related activities of the Philippine fishermen in accordance with the law,” according to Wang Wenbin, Spokesperson, Chinese Foreign Ministry.
That’s why, the Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman said that if Manila were to abuse this, Beijing would retaliate.
“If the Philippine side abuses China’s goodwill, China will retaliate in accordance with the law to protect its own rights, and the Philippine side shall fully bear the relevant responsibilities and consequences,” Wang said,” Wenbin added.
Filipino civilians sailed towards a China-controlled reef on Wednesday to distribute provisions to Filipino fishermen and assert their rights in the disputed waters.
This mission follows a recent incident where China Coast Guard vessels fired water cannons at two Philippine government boats in the same area, highlighting the ongoing maritime tensions between the two countries.
Almost 8 years after the Philippines secured a landmark victory in its arbitration case against China, Beijing still largely dismisses the international ruling, claiming it has no legal basis and asserting historical rights.
