(Eagle News) – Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said that Chinese nationals are not barred from fishing at Recto Bank which is under the Philippine exclusive economic zone (EEZ) at the South China Sea.
Panelo said that it is not really a grant of fishing rights, but China’s activities are “tolerated.”
“Parang ito-tolerate mo lang. It’s not necessarily grant,” he explained after President Rodrigo Duterte said that China could not be prevented from fishing in the Philippines’ 200 nautical miles of EEZ.
Duterte had been asked earlier if the Philippines would bar China from fishing in the Philippines’ EEZ.
The 22 fishermen who had been left adrift at sea after a Chinese fishing vessel hit their boat which was at anchor at the time on June 9, had appealed to the President not to allow China to fish in the country’s EEZ.
But President Duterte said that China would not be agreeable to this as it believes the waters are part of their traditional fishing grounds.
“He said they will not allow it, but as far as they’re concerned, they have historical right to that. Number two, we will allow it kasi we’re friends naman, ‘di magbigayan muna tayo – parang ganoon ang punto ni Presidente,” Panelo told reporters on Tuesday.
But Panelo said that he would still clarify with President Duterte if allowing China to fish in the Philippines’ EEZ would be a policy statement.
