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| Map showing the disputed areas in the West Philippine Sea (south China Sea), including the Spratlys Islands and Scarborough Shoal. AFP BEIJING, China — China is set to enforce its annual fishing ban in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), but the Philippines says it will not recognize the ban in waters both countries claim. Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario says his nation does not recognize the Chinese ban and suggested Filipinos would continue to fish in its territorial waters. Ships from both nations have been standing off at the shoal since April 10. Chinese enforcement of the ban has previously sparked tensions with Vietnam. |
China had already announced its annual ban, that it says is geared toward curbing over-fishing, and includes the waters round the disputed Scarborough Shoal.
The Philippines Monday refused to recognise China's live, that runs from could sixteen to August one, because it encompasses waters it considers as its own.
But Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said President Benigno Aquino welcomed the possibility to replenish fish stocks which the Philippines would issue its own ban.
"We don't recognise China's fishing ban in the maximum amount as parts of the ban encompass our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)," del Rosario said during a statement.
"However, the president has set that in read of the accelerated depletion of our marine resources, it might be advisable for us to issue our own fishing ban for a amount of your time to replenish our fish stock."
The standoff at the Scarborough Shoal began when China blocked a trial by the Philippines on April eight to arrest Chinese fishermen who were allegedly taking government-protected marine species from the realm.
The two nations have since stationed non-military vessels at the shoal in a shot to say their sovereignty over the realm.
Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said that no dates or precise areas had however been set for the Philippine fishing ban.
But he added that Philippine ships at the shoal, that sits regarding 230 kilometres (140 miles) from the most Philippine island of Luzon, would stay within the space.
China, that claims the majority of the South China ocean, says it's imposed the fishing ban each year since 1999 to safeguard "maritime biological resources".
Vietnam, that additionally claims a part of the South China ocean, has complained that the Chinese fishing ban violates its EEZ, and has lodged a proper protest.
The Philippines additionally said Monday it'll lose out on regarding a pair of,000 Chinese tourists a year attributable to the dispute when Chinese travel agencies suspended visits.
Philippine Tourism Undersecretary Maria Victoria Jasmin said tour teams booked for could had been cancelled, reportedly on the request of Chinese tourism authorities."The result was immediate however we have a tendency to hope it'll be temporary," she told AFP.
China is that the fourth largest tourist marketplace for the Philippines, with the common Chinese tourist staying regarding 3 days and spending $100-200 each day.