PALAWAN,
PHILIPPINES—Nine Chinese fishermen arrested by the Philippine National Police
(PNP) maritime group last May 8 at the Half Moon Shoal, Palawan, for allegedly poaching in Filipino territorial
waters and catching a protected turtle species will go on trial this week in
the Philippines.
Beijing
government expressed its anger for the arrest made, saying the fishermen were
in China’s territory. Analysts predict that this trial highlights the ongoing
tensions in the South China Sea.
PNP’s
Special Boat Unit monitors the water-areas around the island province of
Palawan.
Unit’s
Captain Osmundo Salito explained U.S gave Philippine authorities six fast
ships to help scrap various types of crime.
“Narcotics
trafficking, human trafficking, terrorism, piracy, smuggling, poaching and
other forms of criminality,” Salito said.
Chinese boat, with a crew of 11, were found on Hasa-Hasa Shoal (Half Moon
Shoal), which is just 60 nautical miles off the coast of Palawan, PNP
spokesperson Senior Superintendent Theodore Sindac said.
After
the arrest, Beijing quickly demanded to immediately release the crew and the
Chinese ship.
Meanwhile,
a spokeswoman warned the Philippines not to take any provocative actions.
However,
authorities filed complaints against nine of the ship’s adult Chinese
fishermen. Arrested Chinese crew will go on trial later this week and if
convicted, they face between 12 and 20 years in prison for violating a
protected species law.
They
are not specifically targeting Chinese fishermen, but claims all of these men
clearly broke Filipino law, Palawan’s chief prosecutor, Alen Rodriguez
seconded.
“There
is overwhelming evidence and we can just not turn the other way and let them
leave. I am confident we will get the conviction,” said Rodriguez.
Some
spectators in Manila alleged the frequent maritime violations by Chinese
fishermen are an example of Beijing’s territorial expansion plan.
Prosecutor
Rodriguez said that if the nine (9) Chinese poachers are convicted, it does not
seem likely they will be granted a presidential pardon as some other foreign
fishermen received in the past.
“In the past, during the time of President Arroyo, she
issued pardon to some Chinese fishermen and [they] were allowed to go home. But
under the Aquino administration, I have not heard of such [an] incident at the
moment,” said Rodriguez.
