AFP to bolster maritime patrols in West Philippine Sea amid China’s fishing ban

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) announced its plans to deploy ships and aircraft for regular maritime and aerial patrols in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) amid the unilaterally imposed fishing ban by China.

This move aims to ensure the safety and security of Filipino fishermen operating in the WPS.

“We are continuing with our regular activities in the area. We will continuously patrol our waters through the Philippine Navy as well as our Philippine Air Force,” said Col. Francel Margareth Padilla, AFP spokesperson.

The AFP has firmly rejected China’s fishing moratorium, which spans from May 1 to September 16 and covers areas in the South China Sea, including the Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal), a traditional fishing ground for Filipinos.

“The Armed Forces of the Philippines strongly objects to China’s unilateral fishing ban in the South China Sea. We assert that it’s lacking in legal basis,” Padilla stated.

She emphasized that the ban violates the Philippines’ maritime claims under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 arbitral ruling that supports the fishing rights of Filipino fishermen in the WPS.

“It breaches our rightful maritime claims under the UNCLOS and the 2016 arbitral decision which upholds the fishing privileges of the Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea,” Padilla added.

Tensions in the WPS remain elevated as China continues to bolster its maritime presence within the Philippines’ 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone. Recently, the China Coast Guard’s (CCG) vessel CCG 5901, known as the “Monster Ship” and the world’s largest coast guard vessel, was sighted near Bajo de Masinloc.

Padilla described the presence of CCG 5901 in Philippine waters as part of China’s “illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive activities” (ICAD) in the South China Sea. “This vessel just passed by our waters but it’s actually part of the ICAD activities by China,” she remarked.

The AFP is committed to protecting the territorial integrity of the Philippines by maintaining its presence in disputed areas through routine patrols and collaborating with “like-minded” nations to preserve peace in the Indo-Pacific region.

“We are guided by the Constitution and the principles of national sovereignty. We underscore that no foreign entity has the authority to impede the Philippines from exercising our sovereign rights over our exclusive economic zone,” Padilla asserted.

The AFP’s actions reflect a continued dedication to safeguarding the nation’s maritime interests and ensuring the rights and safety of its citizens in the WPS.