China bares ‘special arrangement’ with PH on Scarborough in 2016
China bares ‘special arrangement’ with PH on Scarborough in 2016
MANILA, Philippines — There was a “temporary special arrangement” between China and the Philippines in 2016 over the Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal, according to a Beijing embassy spokesperson.
Under this agreement, China said that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine Coast Guard, (PCG), and other government vessels could not enter the 12 nautical miles and corresponding air space of Panatag Shoal.
“According to the temporary special arrangements by the Chinese side in 2016, Filipino fishermen can fish with small fishing boats in designated waters except the lagoon of Huangyan Dao (Panatag Shoal), while the AFP, PCG, and other Philippine government vessels and aircraft should refrain from entering the 12 nautical miles and corresponding air space of Huangyan Dao (Panatag Shoal),” the spokesperson said in a regular press briefing on Thursday.
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“Over the past 7 plus years, the Philippine side had abided by the above agreements, and fishing by Philippine fishermen in designated areas off Huangyan Dao (Panatag Shoal) was not an issue,” the spokesperson said in a regular press briefing on Thursday.
INQUIRER.net has reached out to the National Security Council and PCG spokesperson for West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela for his comment.
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