Decrease in number of Chinese vessels in WPS observed

Decrease in number of Chinese vessels in WPS observed; PH Navy slams China’s fishing moratorium

Transcript

00:00 China's warning and latest declaration of a four-month fishing ban in Scarborough Shoal

00:04 beginning next month has fallen on deaf ears yet again.

00:09 This threat is received and taken by the Philippine Coast Guard and the Bureau of Fisheries and

00:13 Aquatic Resources with a grain assault, as our Patrick De Jesus explains in this report.

00:21 There's a noticeable decrease in the numbers of Chinese vessels on patrol or standby in

00:28 the West Philippine Sea.

00:30 Latest monitoring of the Philippine Navy spotted 122 Chinese ships, comparatively lower than

00:37 the 153 seen two weeks ago when the civilian convoy to Scarborough or Panatag Shoal took

00:44 place.

00:45 The monster ship deployed by China Coast Guard near Bao de Macindloc is now also outside

00:51 the Philippine-exclusive economic zone.

00:54 The Philippine Navy, on the other hand, slammed the fishing moratorium of China in the South

00:59 China Sea.

01:00 It covers Panatag Shoal, which is part of the West Philippine Sea.

01:05 The Navy will not acknowledge the moratorium imposed by China, which has previously issued

01:11 such identical directive to arrest foreigners in the territories they illegally claim.

01:17 They are against international law.

01:20 Our commander-in-chief said they are all unacceptable.

01:23 The SND said they are provocative.

01:26 China is out of tune, out of step, out of their minds.

01:30 The fishing moratorium of China will last for four months until September.

01:35 That has been implemented annually.

01:37 The Philippine Navy assured Filipino fisher folks that they will be given enough protection.

01:43 The Philippine Coast Guard also vowed to provide support.

01:47 Our fishermen rest assured, before China said that the Philippine Navy and AFP are already

01:52 in the Philippines.

01:53 The Philippine Coast Guard has already come up with contingencies in ensuring that we

01:58 will protect the rights of our fishermen who are heading to the South China Sea.

02:04 The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources also stands firm against the unilateral ban,

02:11 and they assured to have their presence felt for Pinoy fisher folks in the WPS.

02:16 "No one should stop what we are doing in the West Philippine Sea.

02:22 First of all, we have the right to do this because it is within the Philippine waters.

02:33 So, in the role of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, whatever plans we

02:40 have in the West Philippine Sea, as part of the assistance we are giving to our fishermen,

02:46 we will continue to do so."

02:48 The BFOR added they will only recognize the closed fishing season of the Philippines every

02:53 November.

02:54 Eleven percent of country's fished harvests comes from the West Philippine Sea, which

03:00 has been a source of livelihood for 385,000 Filipino fisher folk.

03:06 Patrick De Azuz, from The National TV, for a new and better Philippines.