Chinese Ship Stalks Filipino Fisherman Near Pag-asa Island

China remains blind and deaf even after the UN Court of Arbitration accepted the Philippines’ case. It still deploys vessels critical to the issue.

According to Kalayaan Mayor Eugenio Bito-onon Jr., a Chinese coast guard vessel stayed near Pag-asa Island from November 7 and 19 and shadowed Filipino fishermen during its stay in the vicinity.

The ship finally left at around noontime on the 17^th — but not before the administrator of Pag-asa Island was able to take pictures of it.

According to Bito-onon, the ship with bow number 2305 was the kind of vessel the Chinese regularly employ to harass their fishermen.

“These kinds of coast guard ships are those that harass us in Ayungin Shoal,” he said.

He added he and the rest of the residents in the island are expecting more encounters like this one in the future especially after the Chinese finish their reclamation and construction activities in nearby Subi Reef.

The UN Court of Arbitration is currently on process to settle the dispute between the two countries, but it was reported earlier that China did not show up o the hearing.

If China ignores the decision, it will be a big blow to the Asian tiger morally and politically according to political experts.

Chinese President Xi Jinping said earlier that they already holding-off developing  some more artificial islands, but the actual situation says otherwise.

Filipino fishermen are still experiencing maritime problems. The presence of Chinese vessels in the area is fearing the local fishermen who rely their daily life on fishing.

/Carla Gamboa/

 

 

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