Exclusive
By Raïssa Robles
In 1991, the Philippine government established two sea lanes intended only as a shortcut for Taiwanese fishermen to take to the Pacific Ocean fishing grounds.
Seven years later, Manila unilaterally removed these sea lanes.
The reason, according to Rex Robles, a retired Navy Commodore, was that the Taiwanese fishermen used the pass-through-only sea lanes “to poach at will.”
A recent Economist magazine piece characterized Taiwanese fishing activities this way:
“Taiwan’s fishing fleet has a reputation as voracious, and in this incident the Philippines said its coastguard was acting against illegal fishing; it opened fire to disable the engine of a Taiwanese vessel after it tried to ram a Philippine cutter. Taiwanese officials said the dead man was unarmed, and his boat was riddled with bullet holes. The public, whipped up by a tub-thumping press, was outraged.”
One of the fallouts of this fatal shooting of a Taiwanese fisherman in the same area where the sea lanes used to be is the demand by the Taiwanese government for the Philippine government to negotiate a fisheries agreement.
This map showing the coordinates of where the shooting took place was plotted by a government official who asked not to be named. The coordinates were based on the earliest pronouncements of Taipei and Philippine authorities. It shows that the shooting took place within “undisputed” Philippine waters, the source said.
Taiwanese University Professor Chen Hurng-yu wrote in a piece for taipetimes.com that Taipei and Manila used to have some sort of “fishery cooperation”:
“In 1991, Taiwan signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Philippines on agriculture and fishery cooperation and on maritime navigation routes. As part of this memorandum, Manila specified two navigation routes along which Taiwanese fishing boats were allowed passage. It also paved the way for fishery cooperation between the two nations. However, the Philippine government unilaterally abolished this agreement in 1998, as it contravened sections of the Fisheries Code.”
My thanks to commenter @Martial bonifacio for providing the link to Prof. Chen’s piece.
I have not found the MOU to show the terms of that fishery cooperation.
However, another commenter on my site, who goes by the handle @Observer, sent me the following note:
“For information, there was a MOU between Taiwan and the Philippines for fishing activities signed August 1991. From this MOU the Aquino administration (Cory) (issued) the Executive Order 473 with the title: “Establishment of Sea Lanes for the use of fishing areas in the South Pacific Ocean subject to certain conditions”.
@Observer gave a link to an international site. And the EO was there. You can view it at the end of this piece. It is entitled: Establishment of sea lanes for the use of fishing vessels in proceeding to and from their fishing areas in the South Pacific Ocean, subject to certain conditions.
The EO was indeed a fishing cooperation agreement but only to give fishing vessels sea lanes “to and from their fishing areas in the South Pacific Ocean”. NOT to fish in those sea lanes and surrounding areas.
Retired Navy commodore Robles stated as much. The safety corridors were only for passing through, he said. Not for fishing. He also emphasized to me that the safety corridor provided by the Philippine government is proof that Taiwan recognizes Philippine sovereignty over that area.
“I think everyone has forgotten about the safety corridor which Cory Aquino signed during her term. It allowed Taiwanese fishermen to pass through Philippine waters on their way to the Pacific Ocean,” Robles who is now a security consultant said. [Note: We are not related.]
Rex Robles recalled that the Taiwanese had signed a Memorandum of Understanding beforehand to establish that “safety corridor.” He said that if Taiwan believed that was part of their Exclusive Economic Zone, “why will they sign that MOU [Memorandum of Understanding]?”
Lauro Baja, who used to be the Philippine envoy to the United Nations, also recalled the MOU being signed some time in 1991. He also stressed that the MOU only provided Taiwanese fishermen a “safety corridor” but no right to fish in that corridor.
EO 473, which arose from that MOU, was issued by President Benigno Aquino’s late president-mother Corazon Aquino on August 5, 1991. It established two sea lanes for foreign fishing vessels, including those from Taiwan.
EO 473 was signed on behalf of Mrs Aquino by her Executive Secretary, Franklin Drilon – now a senior Philippine senator and touted to be the next Senate President.
According to the EO, it was issued in order to address the growing number of disputes arising from the presence of fishing boats. Interestingly, the area stated in the EO appears to be in the same waters where a Taiwanese fishermen was recently shot dead by the Philippine Coast Guard.
This growing concern for rising disputes was stated in the following clause of the EO:
“WHEREAS, international disputes have frequently arisen involving foreign fishing vessels and their crews found inside the maritime jurisdiction of the Philippines, particularly those occurring in waters between the Bashi and Balintang channels and of the Batanes Islands in the China Sea;”
Section 2 also made it clear that whoever used the sea lanes recognized the waters as part of Philippine territory, subject to Philippine Coast Guard control:
Sec. 2. Requirements for the use of Sea Lanes. — All fishing vessels, using the aforesaid sea lanes, shall be subject to Philippine maritime, immigration and customs laws and regulations and to monitoring and inspection by the Philippine Navy and/or Coast Guard vessels…
In fact the vessels had to give prior notice:
a. Provide prior notification to the Philippine Coast Guard and/or to the Philippine Navy each time they use the designated sea lanes;
The fishing vessels allowed to pass through were barred from fishing in the area. The fishermen on board had to:
c. Stow the fishing gear of the vessels and not perform any fishing activities;
The fishing vessels could not also use force or violence:
d. Refrain from the use of force of any kind, or any other acts in violation of the principles of international law embodied in the Charter of the United Nations:
In 1998, however, EO 473 was repealed by Congress when it enacted the Fisheries Code (Republic Act 8550). Section 131 of the fisheries Code repealed EO 473.
One government source told me the same thing that Rex Robles said: More often than not, the Taiwanese fishing vessels used the sea lanes to fish inside Philippine waters.
And now, the Taiwan government is using the death of a Taiwanese fisherman to force the Philippines to negotiate a fisheries agreement to enable Taiwanese fishing vessels to fish inside those waters.
Marine resources are part of the nation’s wealth. The Fisheries Code was enacted by Congress in 1998 to protect those resources. A source at the Bureau of Fish and Aquatic Resources pointed out to me that Section 87 of the Fisheries Code expressly forbids foreign vessels from fishing in Philippine waters. This is the section of the law that the Philippine Coast Guard was trying to implement at the time of the tragic shooting incident. Under this law, mere presence of a foreign fishing vessel is “prima facie evidence that the vessel is engaged in fishing in Philippine waters”:
Sec. 87. Poaching in Philippine Waters. – It shall be unlawful for any foreign person, corporation or entity to fish or operate any fishing vessel in Philippine waters.
The entry of any foreign fishing vessel in Philippine waters shall constitute a prima facie evidence that the vessel is engaged in fishing in Philippine waters. Violation of the above shall be punished by a fine of One Hundred Thousand U.S. Dollar (US$100,000.00), in addition to the confiscation of its catch, fishing equipment and fishing vessel: Provided, That the Department is empowered to impose an administrative fine of not less than Fifty Thousand U.S. Dollar (US$50,000.00), but not more than Two Hundred Thousand U.S. Dollar (US$200,000.00) or its equivalent in the Philippine Currency.
At the time the Fisheries Code was approved in 1998, the Philippines had fallen to No. 13 among 51 top fish-producing countries in the world. Earlier in 1991, the Philippines was No. 11.
Source: Bureau of Fish and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)
By 2010 – or over a decade after the approval of the Fisheries Code – the Philippines ranked No. 5 among the world’s top fish producing countries.
Now Taiwan wants part of the marine wealth that the Philippines has always considered hers.
Taiwanese leaders demand that the death of a Taiwanese fisherman in those waters should be compensated with a fisheries agreement.
What do you think?
Below is a copy of the original EO 473. And below that is the text of the same EO 473.
I wonder if the Taiwanese fishing vessel was within those coordinates given as the sea lanes. Because even if EO 473 has been repealed, it already establishes the fact that Taiwan did recognize these areas as within Philippine territory.
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 473 – ESTABLISHMENT OF SEA LANES FOR THE USE OF FISHING VESSELS IN PROCEEDING TO AND FROM THEIR FISHING AREAS IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC OCEAN, SUBJECT TO CERTAIN CONDITIONS
WHEREAS, international disputes have frequently arisen involving foreign fishing vessels and their crews found inside the maritime jurisdiction of the Philippines, particularly those occurring in waters between the Bashi and Balintang channels and of the Batanes Islands in the China Sea;
WHEREAS, it is desirable that such disputes be avoided in the interest of the international relations of the Philippines;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, CORAZON C. AQUINO, President of the Philippines, do hereby order.
Section 1. Establishing of Sea Lanes. — There are hereby established two (2) sea lanes to be used by foreign fishing vessels in proceeding to their fishing areas in the South Pacific Ocean (outbound) and in returning to their home ports (inbound) which are described as follows:
(a) Outbound Sea Lane:
Fishing vessels shall start at point A (at lat. 21 deg. 24 min. N and long 120 deg. — 55 min. E) sailing eastward to point B (at lat. 21 deg. — 24 min. N and long 122 deg. — 05 min. E) turning SE to point C (at lat. 21 deg. — 00 min. N and long 122 deg. — 26 min. E) and then proceeding to their destination at the South Pacific Ocean. Sea Lane from point A to C shall have a total width of 10 nautical miles.
(b) Inbound Sea Lanes:
Fishing vessels shall start at a point D (at lat. 19 deg. 00 min. N and long 122 deg. — 42 min. E) sailing NW to point E (at lat. 19 deg. — 20 min. N and long 122 deg. — 27 min. E) thence bearing NNW to point F (at lat. 20 deg. — 08 min. N and long 122 deg. — 20 min. E) thence turning W to point G (at lat. 20 deg. — 08 min. N and long 121 deg. — 27 min. E) to point A (at lat. 21 deg. — 24 min. N and 120 deg. — 55 min. N) and thence proceeding to their home ports. Width of Route from point D to E, E to F and G to A shall each have a total of 12 nautical miles while the width of the Route F to G shall have a total of 6 nautical miles.
Sec. 2. Requirements for the use of Sea Lanes. — All fishing vessels, using the aforesaid sea lanes, shall be subject to Philippine maritime, immigration and customs laws and regulations and to monitoring and inspection by the Philippine Navy and/or Coast Guard vessels and, moreover, shall:
a. Provide prior notification to the Philippine Coast Guard and/or to the Philippine Navy each time they use the designated sea lanes;
b. Proceed without delay;
c. Stow the fishing gear of the vessels and not perform any fishing activities;
d. Refrain from the use of force of any kind, or any other acts in violation of the principles of international law embodied in the Charter of the United Nations:
e. Refrain from any activities other than those incident to their normal modes of continuous and expeditious transit unless rendered necessary by force majeure or by distress;
f. Comply with generally accepted international regulations, procedures and practices for safety at sea;
g. Not pollute the sea lanes; and
h. Not carry out research or survey activities without the prior authorization of the Philippine Government.
Sec. 3. Guidelines for fishing vessels to enter designated Ports. — Such fishing vessels may be authorized to enter designated ports of the Philippines for the purpose of obtaining supplies and services; repairing of vessels; and unloading, shipping and trans-shipping of catches, provided that there are established in such ports certain infrastructures which will develop the aforesaid ports into a fishing base port, including improvements of harbor and mooring facilities; construction of ice-making, cold storage plants and relevant services, all investments in said infrastructure to be made consistent with Philippine investments laws and regulations.
Sec. 4. Implementing Agency. — The Department of National Defense shall implement the provisions of this Executive Order and monitor compliance with relevant Philippine laws and regulations.
Sec. 5. Effectivity Clause. — This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.
DONE in the City of Manila, this 5th day of August, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and ninety-one.
Martial Bonifacio says
Update:
“Rejecting the term “Taiwan” as the nation’s name, former premier Hau Pei-tsun (郝柏村) said yesterday that Taiwan is not an independent, sovereign nation and that unification between Taiwan and China would eventually happen.”
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2013/06/30/2003565974
Philippines negotiating to a province that does not know what it really wants (DPP – independence from PRC or be re-united with mainland china supported by KMT). Read also about the recently signed cross strait deal between china-taiwan which was supported by President Ma Ying-jeou by sending former chairman of KMT party Wu Poh-hsiung.
Even china wants to be included in the fishing deal between PH-TWN.
Link: http://globalnation.inquirer.net/77963/beijing-warns-ph-on-talks-with-taipei
Read this also: http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2013/06/24/2003565534
Back to fishing:
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2013/06/25/2003565616
“The Solomon Islands have alleged that the VMS on the Chan Hung Tsai was intentionally turned off, but the agency said the skipper thought that it was operational, Tsai said.”
Martial Bonifacio says
Update: Bluefin tuna haul soars
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2013/07/03/2003566243
Ano na nangyari sa coastguard natin? Nautusan ba ng commander-in-chief na huwag ng hulihin at mag stay na lang ang Philippine coast guard sa coast? Pababayaan na lang yung mga poachers as they gloat about huge catch of tuna within our territory.
Kaya magulo talaga kausap ang Taiwan and its current leadership. On one hand they are saying to every Filipinos that if we use or comply to the “one china policy” we are just making a convenient excuse not to comply to the four dictated orders/demands of Taiwanese government.
On the other hand the former premier Hau Pei-tsun and even president ma and his administration are okay accepting beijing’s type of “one china policy” (read 1st link comment #60 from taipei times).
Please read:
http://www.roc-taiwan.org/ct.asp?xItem=388014&ctNode=2237&mp=1
“The bottom line is that Guang Da Hsin No.28 was assaulted in the R.O.C. (Taiwan) EEZ and Mr. Hung Shi-chen was shot dead there by Philippine civil servants. All R.O.C. (Taiwan) government asks is for the Philippine government to issue a formal apology, to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation and to punish the perpetrators, to provide compensation to the family of the victim, and to launch the bilateral fishery negotiation so this kind of tragedy will not happen again. Are these too much to ask for? Readers of independent thinking may judge. We shall leave the judgment to the freethinkers.”
Can you imagine our leaders and the Pnoy administration admitting to the statement of TECO that it happened within ROC EEZ?
Martial Bonifacio says
A message from President Ma Ying-jeou to our spineless president.
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2013/06/27/2003565751
“He said these were reasonable requests that are consistent with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the UN Charter.
We are waiting for a response from the Philippines. If there is a positive response, we definitely will lift the sanctions,” -from the link above
I do not agree on the assertion that it was a request. It is more like a order/threat dictated to our government. The sanctions that was imposed can be also be construed as a punishment to innocent OFW’s which i still feel that it is very unfair, since they paid the agencies fee’s that was not refunded. Kung totoo talaga ang pagmamalasakit ng DOLE, OWWA, MECO sa mga OFW they should have ordered the Taiwanese recruitment agencies in the PH to refund all the expenses paid by the OFW’s.
Being a OFW myself in other countries pwede mo i-sue ang agency especially pag nagkapirmahan na kayo ng kontrata o naka forward ka na ng payment sa job recruiter/agency.
By the way notice how the sudden change, from bashi channel now they acknowledged it happened in balintang channel.
I wonder when will Malacañang and the Aquino administration grow some spines and resist the dictated orders of Taiwan? Ano na nga pala nangyari doon sa pangakong release to the public of final report nagkalimutan na?
leona says
We, the Philippines lost this –
http://philnews.com/2013/14c.jpg
our Panatag Shoals, ’cause ‘no shot was fired’…Editorial by Philnews.com
afraid to take the risk on the scene…? Lose it then!
Martial Bonifacio says
1. Is MECO Chairman Amadeo Perez really fighting for the interest of every Filipino?
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/06/17/13/50000-fine-taiwanese-poachers-can-go-free
“He said most fishermen are willing to pay the administrative fine of 50,000 US dollars than face a court case.”
So thus it mean he held a public consultation in Taiwan to ask the Taiwanese fishermen what is the acceptable fine for poachers? Diba trabaho na ng lawmakers in senate at congress ito (to craft law, pentalties and fine etc.) bakit kailangan pang tanungin ang mga Taiwanese about this?
2. http://globalnation.inquirer.net/77821/ph-taiwan-on-way-to-mending-relations
“It’s a very stiff fine and it doesn’t preclude us from detaining their boats,” Basilio said from Inquirer
Are you serious Mr, Basilio and because Taiwan suggested the fine should be a measly $50K you fell for that hook line and sinker? While in other news, the Taiwanese fishing industry are gloating about millions of dollars due to Yellow fin tuna that was caught in the Philippines.
Proof: http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aall/201305220043.aspx
3. Dagdag insulto pa dito is mukhang hindi kinunsulta ni Perez ang mga Philippine fishing rights group which should be his 1st priority to fight for their interest.
Link: http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/etn/news_content.php?id=2241365
moonie says
that can only be expected. taiwan has got both basilio and perez by the balls. they are not exactly eunuchs and probably had illegitimate children born from their taiwanese mistresses. which their filipino spouses got not a whiff of. taiwan knows how to make basilio and perez behave and do their bidding. else their secrets will become public knowledge, har, har.
Martial Bonifacio says
Legally binding? Minutes?
http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aall/201306150031.aspx
“Taiwan’s Deputy Representative to the Philippines Chang Tai-lai and Antonio Basilio, director of the Taipei office of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office, signed the meeting minutes on behalf of the two sides, with Taiwan’s Fisheries Agency Deputy Director-General Tsai Jih-yao and Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Director Asis Perez witnessing the ceremony.”
“Perry Shen, director-general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ (MOFA’s) Department of Treaty and Legal Affairs, said the minutes of the meeting signed after the first preparatory meeting are an official document that is legally binding.”
Questions:
1. Alam ba ni Pnoy yung mga nilalaman ng mga dokumento na pinirmahan ni Basilio? Binigyan ba siya ng authority ng palasyo?
2. What do they mean when MOFA’s Dir. Gen, Perry Shen said “minutes of the meeting signed after the first preparatory meeting are an official document that is legally binding” Anong use/purpose nito?
3. The news link above really made me curious to find out kung ano yung nilalaman na pinirmahan ni Basilio, to know if it is advantageous sa mga kababayan natin Ivatan or not.
Martial Bonifacio says
Activists to sue Japanese PM over Diaoyutais issue
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2013/06/17/2003564996
Another reason why i’m worried about the fishing agreement. In my opinion the fishing agreement between TWN-JPN is still a failure because Taiwanese fishermen travelled even farther to other islands near Okinawa before it was only in Senkaku island.
Can you imagine the Taiwanese activist filing a case against Pnoy or the next presdient? Notice how they keep on reiterating that Balintang channel and bodies of water around Batanes are considered their traditional fishing area.
Link: http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2013/05/20/2003562694
letlet says
Indeed, you have reasons to worry and we the Filipinos should have reasons to worry as well. PNOY should learn lessons from Japanese dilemma in the aftermath of the signing of fishing agreements between TWN and JPN.
moonie says
whether there is fishing agreement or not, nothing will stop the taiwanese from fishing illegally in our waters. catching them and confiscating their vessels and sampa kaso against them is not that easy. their vessels are smaller, more modern and can ran faster than our coast guard’s old ships. next time, taiwanese fishermen will be arming themselves and will trade bullets for bullets.
moonie says
if ever we have new fishing agreement with taiwan, it will be more like a boundary fence. you stay on your side, and we stay on ours. stray, and we’ll shoot, and vice versa. exception only if lthere is severe storm and vessels are blown off course.
Martial Bonifacio says
Wait till Raissa post my update kasi nagpapatawa si Perez at Basilio of MECO. They are boasting how stiff the penalty is ($50K) for arrested poachers.
Pero basahin mo itong balitang ito on how Taiwan boast of gaining millions of dollars through poaching within our territory:
http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aall/201305220043.aspx
Lets do the math. We will impose $50K fine but according to the news link above. A 102 bluefin tuna catch fetches a price tag of NT$50 million (or $1,673,750).
Here is a google conversion from NT dollar to US Dollar.
https://www.google.com/search?q=taiwan+dollar+to+us&oq=taiwan+doll&aqs=chrome.1.57j0l3j62.7007j0&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
Martial Bonifacio says
In Japan a single bluefin tuna was bought by Kiyoshi Kimura for a record price of 155m yen or $1.7m US dollars in a auction last January 4, 2013.
moonie says
weren’t we told that taiwan is mainly fishing to supply fishes for their basic needs?
leona says
…gratitude! My #$%^&! Our BLOGS here have been that! DFA, PLS READ ‘EM! Too ‘bow-bowing’ …the news’ –
“MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines has extended its gratitude to members of the United States Senate for a draft resolution condemning Chinese incursions in disputed Asia-Pacific waters and calling for restraint and peaceful dialogue in settling territorial conflicts.
Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Raul Hernandez on Friday welcomed US Senate Resolution 167, filed June 10 in an effort to ease tensions in the South China Sea and the East China Sea.
The resolution, filed by US Senator Robert and his co-sponsors Senators Benjamin Cardin, Marco Rubio and Bob Corker, particularly cited China’s aggressive assertion of its nine-dash line claim in regional waters and sought to calm the tense air among claimants.
Read more: http://globalnation.inquirer.net/77677/dfa-thanks-us-senators-for-draft-resolution-condemning-chinas-territorial-claims#ixzz2WKmVEppJ
Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook”
…it could have been said “NOTED!”
leona says
…from this news, Philippines LOST this chance –
“So far, no Philippine ship has ever returned to Panatag Shoal. Neither have the legions of Filipino fishermen who have fished in its lagoon and surrounding waters for centuries. The shoal is now teaming with Chinese fishing boats guarded by Chinese vessels (both gray and white). Entrance to the lagoon has now been “roped-off” by China barring Filipinos from its rich fishing grounds.
Now, a year and two months since the incident started, it is clear that the Chinese knew exactly what they were doing from day one. They deduced quite accurately how the Philippine leaders would react. They knew that the Philippines was weak militarily but more importantly, they knew that Philippine leaders were inexperienced, and untested. They knew it was just a matter of time before Malacañang would fold and Panatag Shoal would be theirs for the taking. What might have come as a bit of a surprise to the Chinese was how quickly Malacañang and its yellow-shirted advisers buckled and ran screaming for the exits. Published 6/14/2013 SHOALS…””
…who says ‘DON’T SHOOT!”
Martial Bonifacio says
@Raissa
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2013/06/16/2003564894
From a different news site. Sana ma-verify ito agad ng PH media whether this is true or not.
@Victin Luz
1. Pakibasa po yung news link sa itaas. It seems Taiwan is really dictating on our own laws and i quote:
“In the event that a fishing boat is detained by the other side, the detaining country must abide by international regulations regarding fisheries disputes and release the boat and fishermen as soon as possible,” -Lin said
Bakit kailangan ma release yung boat ng mangingisda? Sa ibang bansa tulad ng japan pagnahuli ka confiscated yung boat unless nagbayad ka ng fine then deport yung poacher.
I hope you see where my apprehensions regarding this fishing agreement. Kung ngayon pa lang ay hindi na nila ma respeto ang teritoryo natin. Ano pa kaya kung gagawin legal ito ni Pnoy? Let me reiterate also to watch and read the comment #43 i posted. Instead na ang mga mangingisda pinoy ang nakikinabang sa natural resources natin dadagdagan pa natin sila ng ka-kumpetensiya na mga Taiwanese fishermen na wala naman maitutulong sa ekonomiya ng Pilipinas.
Ang unang tanong na parating pumapasok sa utak ko is “Ano ang benefit ng fishing agreement na ito sa mga Ivatan?”
2. Sovereign rights issue
Kung totoo yang balita it might jeopardize our sovereignty. We are talking about Balintang Channel not Bashi Channel. Notice how taiwan’s foreign minister keeps on reiterating that disputed territories. This is the 1st time they brought it up, challeging our countries sovereignty due to a unfortunate incident.
By signing a agreement we are partially admitting to their claims that “Balintang Channel” is a disputed teritory unless na mailalagay sa fishing agreement that Taiwan acknowledges Batanes group of islands and Balintang channel along with its surrounding waters is under the jurisdiction and sovereign territory of the Philippines.
Isa pa bakit tinawag na Exclusive Economic Zone kung mayroon tayong kahati? Edi hindi na ito exclusive diba? What made it worst is that we are a signatory so everything inside UNCLOS we are bound to follow. Samantalang ang kausap natin (Taiwan) ay hindi nakapirma sa UNCLOS.
Another issue in sovereign rights is law enforcement. Tulad ngayon bakit hindi hulihin ng CG-BFAR yang mga mangingisda na pumapaligid sa Batanes islands?
Links:
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/focus/05/28/13/how-taiwanese-fishermen-are-hurting-ivatans
“BFAR said Taiwanese fishing vessels were seen in the waters near Batanes group of islands.
BFAR director for Cagayan Valley Jovita Ayson cited a recent incident of a Taiwanese fishing crew firing flare guns near Batanes’ Itbayat town.”
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/06/09/13/no-harm-talking-taiwan-fisheries-pact
Victin Luz says
Teka [email protected] sir Martial…..a fishery talks does not mean , surrendering our sovereign rights on a certain AREA of the Philippines …. Let’s wait what are Inside on that talks or the mechanics to be implemented if any upon conclusions ….
Martial Bonifacio says
Taiwan, Philippines reach initial consensus on fishery talks
http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/etn/news_content.php?id=2240375
Nakakalungkot isipin na nauna ko pa itong nabasa sa Taiwan news kesa sa media natin. Samantalang ang government naman natin sabi ay after ng investigation and consultation sa mga Ivatan tsaka magkakaroon ng fisheries talk. Si Pnoy na mismo ang may sabi niyan.
Sa mga pangyayari at lumalabas na balita mukhang magiging Masinloc, Zambales part 2 ang Batanes. Hindi na natuto si Pnoy after nuong failed back door negotiation sa China using Trillanes, ngayon naman back door negotiation saTaiwan.
raissa says
Baka naman di totoo
Martial Bonifacio says
That’s one reason why i sotto and paste it here so anyone from Philippine media or have connections can verify the report.
Victin Luz says
TEKA MUNA sir @Martial……CONSENSUS on FISHERY TALKs doesn’t automatically means we are going to WAVE sovereign rights to TAIWAN ….what is INSIDE and to be approved on that FISHERY TALKS must first DETERMINED…. bago tayo MAGHUSGA o magbigay ng comments negative or positive one..
And we must remember that Scarorough Shoal is much different from the area or where the shooting incidents happen… Doon sa isa mayroong LULUBUG LILITAW na reefs ( atin ito , pero kahit mag imbestiga pa uli tayo ay habang nangingisda ang Filipino here, sa malapit Lang sa kanilang lugar ay malimit din may nagingisdang mga TSINO..FACTs iyan…at pinapabayaan naman natin kasi po” CONTESTED AREA” mga ang LUGAR at we only made the Scarborough Shoal in the category of REGIME of ISLAND ,, which IMHO it weakes our possession and position over the matter..) sa Batanes or Balintang Channel ay walang REEFs na pinag uusapan, bagkos nag OVERLAPPED ang Taiwanese fishermen sa pangingisda nila outside their EEZ , that supposed to be at the MIDDLE between Taiwan shoreLine and Batanes farthest islet shorelines… HINDI PWEDING 200 nautical miles each State Kung Hindi OVERLAPPED nga…
In a fishing EXPIDETION school of FISHES changes abruptly or rapidly especially when the MOON changes position….ngayon during that time that you are near your RESPECTIVE BORDERs ,,,papaano iyan kung hindi pa PUNO ang bangka mo ? ( legally one should stop in order to avoid POACHING ) and nearby or inside the boundary of Philipppines naroon ang school of FISHES waiting to be caught?, How do we solve problems like these Kung magyari nga at kadalasan ay nangyayari ito , at ito ang malimit na mangyari dahil nagpapalusot mga sila dahil kakaunti na ang ISDA sa lugar nil a ( mas marami at mas bago ang gamit ng Tsiwanese fisherman kaysa sa atin ) .. ..So let us wait what MECHANICs are they going to lay on that particular Agreement saka tayo mag alma, di po ba.
Martial Bonifacio says
I don’t agree on the 3rd paragraph. Hindi na problema ng Pilipinas at mga FIlipino kung sinira nila ang kanilang karagatan and it should not justify poaching by their fishermen. Problema na nila yun besides they are considered a rich country, they can easily buy fish from us.
Sayang lang at hindi ko na mahanap yung news sa Taipei times, kasi pinakita doon sa balita through pics how bad is the status of their coastal waters na wala na talagang corals due to trawling.
200nm each state? When did Taiwan declare their independence from Beijing so other sovereign nations can acknowledge Taiwan as a sovereign state? Sila nga mismo hindi na nila alam ang gusto nila. Whether to surrender their sovereignty to Beijing or be a independent country.
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2013/06/15/2003564849
Victin Luz says
If ever Taiwan was a renegade island province of China,, then under UNCLOS provision provides them also with EEZ, territorial sea and etc…
Martial Bonifacio says
1. That’s the point and that’s why you used the words “if ever” since we don’t really know what they want. Sila mismong mga Taiwanese ay hindi na alam ang gusto nila sa bansa nila. To be a sovereign nation and declare independence? To claim back mainland or to be under CCP of Beijing? Anong provision nga pala ng UNCLOS naka sulat yung sinasabi mo i want to read it for myself, please put the link. Thanks.
2. Link: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/427099/milf-talks-deadlocked
Another good comparison on how our government makes deals and agreements. Kung sa internal affairs ay dekada inaabot ang pakikipagusap bakit pag sa banyaga weeks lang? Hindi naman ata tama na ganyan ang ating proseso.
Kung tutuusin nga dapat mas unahing asikasuhin ng gobyerno ang sigalot sa Mindanao since it will help and benefit every Filipino. Samantalang ang external affairs like Taiwan’s proposed “fisheries agreement” walang benefit to us.
Victin Luz says
ARTICLE 121- REGIME of ISLANDs ——#2.. Except as provided at paragraph 3.,the territorial sea, EEZ and the continental shelf are also provided to the said island ( ex… An islets or shoal na lulubug Lilitaw sa high tide and low tide … much more to a renegade island province like Taiwan ) especially when the said island CAN SUSTAIN HUMAN [email protected]….
Can sustain human habitation….like the MISCHIEF REEFs …if we can now consider as regime of island that can sustain HUMAN HABITATION,,,,may EEZ na sya sir @martial….. overlapping na tayo sa EEZ pag magsukat ka mula sa shoreline ng PALAWAN pappuntang gitna at hanggang Mischief Reefs……
mischief reefs was now provided with 5 story Military Outpost capable of human habitation or can accommodate up to 2 companies of Chinese Navy…. BOBO nga si RAMOS at si GLORYA dahil noong naglagay na ang TSINO ng structures sa Mischief Reefs,, still they did not questions the meaning of Regime of Islands NOR must have constructed an STRUCTURE at Ayungin shoal….KASO…….they both preferred to construct other WHITE ELEPHANT PROJECTs during their TENUREsin OFFICE even during the time of ERAP wala ring ginawa….MINANA NGA NI PNOY LAHAT diba sir….
Martial Bonifacio says
Minana ni Pnoy ang lahat? No he could have prevented the occupation of Scarborough Shoal if he never ordered the CG to retreat and listened to Sec. Del Rosario, but he didn’t and instead he believe and trust CCP and Trillanes in having a effective back-door negotiations without the knowledge of Sec. Del Rosari.
Term na ni Pnoy ngayon. Hindi ni gloria. Hindi ni Erap or Ramos.
Kahit nga si Mayor Bito-onon frustrated na sa mga pangako ng Aquino administration.
“It’s waste of money and time to go back and forth to Manila to follow up our development proposals. Nothing happens up to now,” Bito-onon tells InterAksyon.com
Link: http://www.interaksyon.com/article/62371/as-mayor-longs-for-development-in-kalayaan-others-fear-chinas-rape-of-the-islands
Victin Luz says
[email protected] martial….pulling out our Ships at Scarborough Shoal was wrong and could have been prevented by PNOY , but PNOY must be thinking of other CONTRACTs entered into by Gloria that can be a LEVERAGE by China against RP , wherein we will be at the lossing end if PNOY insisted of not withdrawing RP SHIPs in the area..
With regards to the Mayor and other officials of KALAYAAN town, bago sila magasawa sa mga pangako ni PNOY ay , they have to look themselves first at the mirror, because ( you can ask them or have a survey ) they were not having office at KALYAAN but doing their OFFICE/business hours at PUERTO PRINCESA….. 24 hours by boat and how can they protect even in time of WORDED DIPLOMACY if they were all staying at PUERTO….. DE FACTO MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT……ever since I stayed here on 1992 …..wala namang nag oooffice sa KALAYAAN , kundi dito sila sa PUERTO at napunta Lang sila SELDOM Kung may election o FIESTA nila….HOW is that @sir martial….
Martial Bonifacio says
Mabuti nga nagtratrabaho si Bito-onon according na rin sa sinabi mo atsaka hindi na ako nagtataka kasi kung paaralan nga lang e, ay hindi mapondohan yung office pa kaya ng mayor?
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/41683/china-slammed-on-threats-vs-pag-asa-island-public-school
Dapat nga pasalamatan pa natin lahat ng sundalo at mga pamilya na nagsasakripisyo upang bantayan ang Pag-asa island at mga karatig na isla na sakop ng Pilipinas. Kailangan ba talaga natin e criticize ang mga taong ito na nasaharap ng piligro ang buhay dahil sa mga mananakop tulad ng tsina?
@Victin Luz ikaw ang nagaakusa niyan kay Mayor Bito-onon but can you substantiate it?
Hindi ka ba naiinsulto na inuutus-utusan lang ni Hong Lei ang Pnoy administration na huwag ituloy ang pag gawa ng paaralan sa Pag-asa island sabay sunod naman sila agad?
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/283904/news/nation/dbm-urged-to-release-funds-for-pag-asa-island-school-construction
Pangako at panahon na ni Pnoy yan ha…… Hindi ni gloria hindi ni erap at hindi rin ni ramos. Anyare hanggang SONA lang ang speech?
Victin Luz says
How can we give a good credential to Maypr Bitoon , if all his Municipal Officials and himself are not having office in KALAYAAN ? How @sir martial….. Don’t you not know that only during election day and other important DAY that they are visiting the TOWN?
We salute those soldiers manning the TOWN-ISLAND proper and other islets with soldiers but not the elected officials of KALAYAAN….there was no threat coming from CHINA ever since at KALAYAAN -island town and other isltes comprising the MUNICIPALITY but then , as I said and it was FACTs…. Ayaw nilang mag opisina sa KALAYAAN…. BSKIT? Try to ask Bitoon kung nasaan ang family nya o kaya mga Familya ng mga kasamahng nyng opisyales ng Bayan nila [email protected]….
Kahit pa panahon na ni PNOY,,,the blame on what was happening at Ayungin Shoal ang Scarorough Shoal must be accredited to RAMOS and GLORYA…..
I can subtantiate what I am saying here [email protected]…… You can call the office of the Governor of Palawan now if you want or any Mayor of Palawan Towns , will confirm that ever since , Municipal Officials ( elected and appointed ) of Kalayaan are having office or functioning as a Municipailty at Puerto Princesa City…….
Martial Bonifacio says
http://www.un.org/depts/los/convention_agreements/texts/unclos/part4.htm
Article 51: Existing agreements, traditional fishing rights and existing submarine cables
1. Without prejudice to article 49, an archipelagic State shall respect existing agreements with other States and shall recognize traditional fishing rights and other legitimate activities of the immediately adjacent neighbouring States in certain areas falling within archipelagic waters. The terms and conditions for the exercise of such rights and activities, including the nature, the extent and the areas to which they apply, shall, at the request of any of the States concerned, be regulated by bilateral agreements between them. Such rights shall not be transferred to or shared with third States or their nationals”
This might weaken our sovereignty IF Pnoy signs that fishing agreement. It will also mean that Pnoy is acknowledging and entertaining the claims of Taiwan (not considered a state) having traditional rights in Balintang channel and Batanes group of islands.
moonie says
I think the fishing agreement should be worded carefully so it can strengthened, not weakened our stand. basilio and his sidekick are too taiwanized to think filipino.
vander anievas says
mayaman na ang tsina.
kayang-kaya na nila ang ASEAN kahit sabay-sabayin pa niya.
antayin nyo ang pagyaman ko.
sila ang uunahin kong sakupin.
gagawin ko silang tagabantay sa aking ayunginan na ga-talaisa pa lang ang laki.
o di kaya ay gagawin ko silang baklad ng dulong.
o pasadsaran ng isdang martiniko.
magmumukha dilang sisiwa sa dunggot.
o buligan sa lam-awan.
tingnan ko kung hindi sila magmukhang ginango na naputulan ng sungot.
hehehe! jok-jok-jok!
inis na inis na po ako mga ka-CPMers sa mga mapanghimasok na iyan.
pampaalis lang po ng inis.
kung hindi nyo po maintindihan ang ilang dialects ko, yan po ay taal na dialects ng mga taga-Quisao.
pahiyang lang po. pasensya na kung boring…
leona says
The recommendation of NBI to charge the Coast Guard fellow to face charges is “a monkey-on-our-backs”
The CG says “Ayon naman sa Coast Guard, tinangka umano ng mangingisda na banggain ang barko ng Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources kaya binaril ang bangka.”
To ‘see’ that the Taiwanese vessel intended to ram the CG vessel is a justifying circumstance to ‘shoot the vessel’. If the poor Taiwanese got killed, there was not ‘intent’ to kill him. It’s part of the ‘game’ played by Taiwanese poaching vessels “FISH & RUN IF YOU CAN”…! Our CG plays ‘SHOOT AND STAND”
PNoy should not approve the NBI recommendation.
chijap says
I beg to differ.
If the CG intended to fire warning shot to ward of a supposedly barraging Taiwanese fisherman, then it is obviously understandable.
But what happens when the shot fired were intended to kill the fisherman who seems to be unarmed. And the shots were aimed at the area at the boat where the fisherman seems to have hid.
I am uncertain sa atin but “death by police” in other countries happens when the “victim” intends to kill the police by firing back with a gun. Thus mauunahan na sya ng police.
In this case, even with assuming there was a bump made by the fisherman, it does not justify the killing of the fisherman. Warning shots is the best you should fire but not at the fisherman.
In short, the findings seems to show there was overzealous action on the part of the CG, which resulted in death.
Will morale be low in the CG, yes. But is this the right lesson for them to humbly eat. Most likely so that they can either learn from it or continue to gripe.
What the government should also do is add a follow through with at least a statement that had the fisherman not be in the area, the encounter would have not happened. In short, the fisherman has no business in PH waters.
Reinforce that and that addresses both parties.
letlet says
I agree, the CG should not be charged, as it was an unintentional killing – it was the boat he was shooting to stop it from ramming our vessel- wherein the CG at that moment was ” it’s them or us to die.” The fisherman, who was shot, was hiding , therefore he was not physically visible – so no case to answer. I wonder if the recommendation to charge the CG has been influenced by the presence and the protection of the Filipino workers in Taiwan.
letlet says
I believe it is self – defense on the part of our CG through and through.
Martial Bonifacio says
Update:
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/77589/coast-guards-to-be-criminally-charged-de-lima-confirms
1. “That is where you will know whether firing at a poaching vessel, which is not even showing its flag (according to reports), is justified or not,” -Lawyer Jay Batongbacal, director of the University of the Philippines Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea
This is one of the reason i want to see the video myself since it will show who is right between the two claims of Mrs. Carvajal or Atty. Batongbacal.
2. Also Atty. Batongbacal said “Prosecuting the coast guards would encourage poachers from any country to “have a field day because the Philippines is afraid to enforce its own laws,”
In fact they are still poaching and our government is doing nothing to apprehend the poachers. Read the news links and watch the videos at comment #43, Taiwanese fishermen are still in Batanes poaching.
While in West Philippine Sea, A Chinese frigate is in Ayungin shoal and there are news that China is allegedly starting to build structures in Panatag Shoal.
Link: http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2013/06/10/952137/no-new-chinese-structures-4-ships-panatag-expert
Okay lang na kasuhan ang CG-BFAR kung nagkamali pero ang tanong bakit hindi hinuhuli yang mga poachers na hanggang ngayon ay nasa loob ng teritoryo ng Pilipinas? Kahit anong sugar coat ni Pnoy in his speech na ipaglalaban niya ang sovereignty ng ating bansa during our 115th Independence Day, ang katotohanan ay isinuko niya ang ibat ibang karagatan ng Pilipinas.
Victin Luz says
@sir martial,,, sino ba sa ating mga makabayang Filipino na gustong mawaldas ang ating karagatan ? WALA PO….so too with PNOY being our LEADER who is fighting corruption left and right now to accomplished his POLICY na ” TUWID na DAAN “……. poachers in our territorial sea are everywhere especially at Palawan area and since my stay here 20years ago today ay hindi muna mabilang ang mga nahuli ng ating NAVY-COAST GUARD na mga poachers of different Nationalitist …..NOW ,today poachers apprehended before and convicted of Poaching and HAVE NOT YET COMPLETED the number of years to stay in prison as PENALTY ,,,, they are now being deported as ordered by the Bureau of Immigration…… People were asking NOW on the radio…BAKIT nyo pakakawalan na naman Hindi pa tapos ng SENTENSYA NYA……? Uuwi iyan sa CHINA at mag iipon MULI ng maraming PERA at babalik na naman sa POACHING activities , at saan? … Di doon sa pag nahuli ka ay , sandali Lang naman sila sa kulungan LABAS ULI…….STILL SHOOTING THEM when no life of any of the accosting employees are on DANGER , are not ALLOWED…….
With regards DYAN sa sinasabi mong sovereignty …..talagang Kung titingnan mo ay hanggang salita nalang iyan WHY? WALA mga po tayong kakayahang makipagyera sa mga INTSIK……Statistics will say our logistics or ammunition will not last for one WEEK sabi ng iba sa military……JUST PROTEST sa UN and other bodies….
In all WARs or if you go to WAR , it was already a FACT that the country that produces more METAL wins the war….and who can produce more metal? The country who is FINANCIALLY abundant? Remember USA billion of dollars ang utang sa CHINA. Now or so Philipppines is not financially comparable to CHINA….. So then how can we win a war with CHINA? It’s only thru DIPLOMACY or with the help of USA na ayaw naman tayong tulungan…..
Ikaw ang nagsabi sa nabasa mo na CHINA was building defense at Panatag Shoal,,,, so sa tingin mo bakit wala man Lang napunta na Coast Guard na MANITA doon sa lugar at para giyerahin ang TSINO? Dahil we don’t have the capabilities to go to war against CHINA…… Pero Hindi parin Ito dahilan para pagbabarilin mo ang foreign POACHERs…..
Martial Bonifacio says
Bakit na naman na pasok ang usaping giyera/war? Wala naman akong binanggit na giyerahin natin ang China. Can you please quote me in what sentence did i justify the shooting of our coastguard? I even said apprehend or hulihin yung mga current poachers na nasa karagatan ng Batanes ayon sa balita as shown in ABS-CBN news in comment #43.
Naguguluhan ako kasi on one hand you keep bringing up the idea of war on the other hand you keep on saying that the use of force by our CG is wrong. Parehas nanggagaling sa reply mo para sa akin which really confuses me kasi i never mentioned nor entertained those 2 ideas at my comment above.
2 conflicting ideas coming from you…..
Victin Luz says
Ok sir Martial,,,,How do you want PNOY to hold on our sovereignty of the SHOAL then? Sir,,ikaw ang nagsasabi na isinusuko ni PNOY ang ang karagatan natin na mulat sapul ay atin diba? I am only justifying that PNOY was right on his DIPLOMACY approach,,, pero ikaw ang nagsabi nitong SUGAR COATED ang speech Nya diba sir…… ANO PALA ang dapat na ginawa nya , na paraan para matanggap mo sir?
chijap says
Diplomacy is one thing.
I think the illegal fishermen should be arrested and put in jail. (and not deported)
How hard would that be?
A friend once said — the problem with Philippine Justice System is not that we have inutile enforcers or bad laws, the problem is the forgiving nature Filipinos have.
All those who were arrested, pinapatawad din dahil sa awa. Problem with that, repeat offenders ang dating.
Martial Bonifacio says
Check my reply to letlet at comment# 44.2.2.1 since he/she asked a similar question. I understand that you want to justify Pnoy’s decision was right but we should not let this blind us from the reality that due to the pull out of BRP Del Pilar, our fishermen in Masinloc Zambales lost their livelihood.
Hindi naman ako yung nagyabang noong SONA and made a speech about “ang kay juan ay kay juan” or “kapag tumapak ka sa Recto bank ay para ka na din tumapak sa Recto Avenue”. Hindi ako yung nagsabi noong 115th independence day na “Wala sa lahi natin ang pagiging agresibo, pero hindi rin tayo titiklop sa anumang hamon.”
The one thing i like about Pnoy is his attitude of being blunt and honest, calling a spade a spade but when it comes to certain issues like Scarborough shoal, Ayungin Shoal even in the Taiwan dispute he seems to deviate from that attitude.
The reason i use the expression “sugarcoat” is because that is what Pnoy is doing currently. Saying one thing but completely doing the opposite. Wait for my comment#50 (since its under moderation). Have you read the news when Pnoy stated that he will only entertain fisheries talk AFTER the issue of PCG-BFAR is finished being settled.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/05/21/13/ph-open-fisheries-agreement-taiwan-et-al
Victin Luz says
Ok sir @Martial…… Let us wait or buy sometime if the Chinese are going to Built structures at Ayungin Shoal…( si PNOY ay hindi titiklop sa ano mang HAMON… here, on my understanding , DIPLOMACY or thru legal means ang ginagawa ni PNOY o ginagawa na nya )…. To tell you the thruth , I was in Palawan noong Ramos administration wherein at the Intellegence room of WESCOM,,halos daily ang reconaissance plane getting pictures and posting at WESCOM bulletin board showing progress accomplishment ng construction , until completed nila ang MILITARY FORTRESS sa MISCHIEF REEFs. …na walang ginawa si RAMOS…not even our journalist/Media dug deep into this EVENTs….wala lang… NOW..
If PNOY will do the same by not doing something until MILITARY STRUCTUREs will be BUILT thereat ,,,,hayaan maniniwala ako o tama ka na si PNOY ay DEVIATING his policy as against what he said on his SPEECHESs….BOLA LANG din SYA……I believe in you that PNOY must do something FAST but sad to say WAR is not our option nor shooting poachers compared to as a very DIFFERENT ANIMAL than the Chinese Military are to be CONDONED by US…..
chijap says
The NBI recommended filing of charges to the Coast Guard personnel. Good kung overzealous nga si CG, then so be it.
But if the fisherman is at fault and was fishing in areas it does not allowed to, Taiwan should answer to it nevertheless. And the answer is not a fishery agreement.
Taiwan’s demand to fishery agreement is loopside. Agreeing to such is tantamount to basically allowing an illegal act made legal.
If Taiwan needs the fishes, they buy it from the Filipino fishermen and/or Filipino export market.
moonie says
it was recommended, but not strongly recommended.
japan also has fishing agreement with taiwan, allowing taiwan to fish north of senkaku islands. lately though, taiwan breached the agreement and fished repeatedly south of senkaku islands. it’s easy to sign agreements, but so hard to enforce. apparently japan is frustrated with revolving door policy, having to continously confiscate taiwanese fishing vessels that keep on coming back, and is changing tack. japan is now planning of arming its navy that patrols the area.
chijap says
thanks.
This only brings up my point again, why do they need to fish in PH waters when they can buy it from the authorized “resellers” so to speak.
Taiwan should actually sign a purchase order for more fishes from the Philippines than actually an agreement for fishing.
Martial Bonifacio says
@Rene-Ipil salamat sa update.
@Victin Luz
Agree ako dun sa last reply mo. Antayin na lang natin na gumalaw ang justice system and give the CG-BFAR their day in court. I wonder how will the Taiwanese react if ang punishment ay administrative lang and removal from service?
“WALA pa ata.. Mga smugglers o pirata may nabalitaan kana ba na nahuli nila , parang WALA din…… Oil pilferage within our territory are rampant …. NAKATUNGANGA Lang naman ata sila…..” -Victin Luz
Hindi naman ata tama na sisihin natin ang buong CG for their lack of capabilities na ipatupad or bantayan ang ating buong coast line. The most recent one na nahuli that i remember from reading news is yung mga chinese smugglers ng pangolins sa Palawan.
Kulang tayo sa mga coast guard personnel at equipments tapos yung funding for daily operation ay kulang din. Dagdag pa dito ay ang corruption and misuse of funding (pabaon, ligot etc.). Parang etong most recent news about AFP modernization vs SM Aura
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/video/business/06/13/13/bcda-sm-aura-profit-should-go-afp
Remember the 4 demands of Taiwan? How far will Pnoy go and follow the orders dictated by Presdient Ma?
What Philippines can learn from the fishing pact between TWN-JPN:
After the fishing agreement between TWN-JPN hindi pa din natigil ang poaching ng mga Taiwanese fishermen bagkus lalo pa silang nanghimasok sa loob ng teritoryo ng Japan. Kung nuon sa senkaku island lang, ngayon pati sa Sakishima island nanduon na din ang mga poachers.
Links:
http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/etn/news_content.php?id=2239754
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2013/05/15/2003562341
Naglagay na nga ng designated fishing area ang Japan para sa mga Taiwanese fishermen in Senkaku yet they dont know how to follow it.
Tulad nga ng sabi ko sa comment #43 kung ngayon pa lang ay apektado na ang mga Ivatan ano pa kaya pag pinirmahan ni Pnoy yang fishing agreement with Taiwan.