Fishermen record new incident of harassment by China Coast Guard

CNN Philippines

Another harrassment incident by the Chinese Coastguard has been caught on video by Filipino fishermen in Scarborough Shoal.  But authorities have some advice to avoid any escalation on the situation.  Bea Pinlac has more.   Visit our website for more #NewsYouCanTrust: https://www.cnnphilippines.com/  Follow our social media pages:  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CNNPhilippines • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cnnphilippines/ • Twitter: https://twitter.com/cnnphilippines

Transcript

00:00 In a video sent to the Philippine Coast Guard by a fisherman, a China Coast Guard rubber

00:06 boat can be seen in the waters near the Scarborough Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc last January 12.

00:11 In the video, the uploader narrates how personnel of the CCG approached and scolded Filipinos

00:18 who were near and at the reef in search of food.

00:21 According to the PCG, the fisherman filed his statement on January 20 to inform authorities

00:27 about the incident.

00:29 He says the Filipinos were only collecting taktakun or seashells for food when they were

00:34 chased by the rubber boat with five China Coast Guard personnel aboard.

00:38 Four of the CCG personnel disembarked the boat and swam toward the Filipino fishers.

00:43 They were even instructed to return the seashells that they gathered back to the sea.

00:49 They have also driven away the Filipino fishing vessels to go away from Bajo de Masinloc.

00:56 As far as the video is concerned, I would say these are authentic videos.

01:01 We have already collaborated the information provided by the one who uploaded the video

01:08 to other Filipino fishermen.

01:12 Although Tariela says the Filipino fishermen can't be blamed for their reaction to what

01:17 the CCG did, he reminds them.

01:20 We still maintain cooler heads so that we can be able to prevent such escalation of

01:27 tension in the West Philippine.

01:29 China's aggressive actions against Filipinos in the West Philippine Sea are nothing new.

01:34 Tariela says this is why the PCG and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources stay true

01:40 to their unwavering duty to patrol the disputed area.

01:44 But he admits they can't promise that their patrols will get to cover all areas in the

01:48 West Philippine Sea.

01:50 Unfortunately, as you know, being candid and honest with the current number of inventory

01:55 of vessels that we have, we can only optimize the number of vessels, but we cannot commit

02:00 that there will be like 24/7 presence in different areas of the West Philippine Sea.

02:06 Tariela meanwhile isn't expecting much from the promises made by China in its recent bilateral

02:12 consultation mechanism on the South China Sea meeting with the Philippines.

02:16 This was where both countries committed to avoid escalating tensions in the West Philippine

02:21 Sea.

02:22 I have always been very hopeful in our talks with the People's Republic of China when it

02:27 comes to the West Philippine Sea.

02:29 However, it has never happened before.

02:32 So I would say I have high hopes but moderate expectations whether the People's Republic

02:40 of China would be truthful with their promises that they made last January 17.

02:44 Be up in luck, CNN Philippines.

Category

Transcript

Recommended