“Local officials of Kalayaan were
lately prevented from visiting Ayungin Shoal by the Chinese Coast Guard”, says
officials of the Kalayaan Municipal Office.
On August 01, the officials
directed to the shoal to prepare for the upcoming visit of Kalayaan Mayor, and
brought some food supplies for the soldiers that are stationed at BRP Sierra Madre. They said the Chine Coast Guards
with a number of 3111 allegedly stopped for 20 to 30 meters away from their
boat and attempted to block their way.
The local officials were forced
to pass through narrow water, so that the larger Chinese vessel
could not follow. Finally, they made to the shoal. But according to one of the officials, they somehow felt alarmed because Chinese coast guards are getting more aggressive this time.
could not follow. Finally, they made to the shoal. But according to one of the officials, they somehow felt alarmed because Chinese coast guards are getting more aggressive this time.
"You're tired and you are
wet for almost 24 hours suddenly and suddenly a Chinese Coast Guard blocks your
way. We have so called “freedom of navigation in the sea”. It is just
disturbing that simply because of the freedom of innocent passage, you gotta
get into your destination without any interruption,"Kalayaan executive
assistant Joey Vincent Rabanal said. This has ignited worry among Filipino fishermen
in the West Philippine Sea.
Meanwhile China has
reportedly stretched its maritime patrols in the area to guard its fishing
boats after its 11 Chinese fishermen were arrested near the shoal last May.
