May 29, 2024

On May 27, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs protested China's "unilateral" implementation of a four-month fishing moratorium in the South China Sea, claiming that this move "escalates tensions" in the region and calling on China to "cease and desist" from "illegal actions" that "violate the Philippines' sovereignty and sovereign rights." This is an unreasonable accusation. China's fishing ban significantly contributes to the sustainable development of fisheries in the South China Sea, benefiting the people of all coastal countries in the region. It is Manila's actions that are extremely irresponsible toward its own fishermen.

China's implementation of the summer fishing moratorium in the South China Sea is conducted within areas under Chinese jurisdiction. The Philippines' claim that the fishing moratorium covers "the Philippines' exclusive economic zone" is a unilateral assertion that China does not recognize. The Philippines' interference in areas under Chinese jurisdiction amounts to meddling in China's territorial sovereignty and rights. Furthermore, the fishing moratorium is a standard measure for the sustainable protection of marine biological resources and reflects the fulfillment of international legal obligations, including those under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The Philippines' stance contravenes principles of ecological and environmental protection and lacks support both scientifically and under international law.

The egregious aspect of the Philippines' actions is that it links China's fishing ban system with the interests of Filipino fishermen, confusing the public. Manila's demands not only violate China's territorial sovereignty and UNCLOS, but also harm the long-term interests of its own fishermen, disregarding the survival environment of future generations. This is not merely playing the victim; it is plainly unreasonable. The Philippine government, under the guise of fighting for fishermen's rights, is actually shirking its responsibility to them. Unrestricted fishing is ultimately unsustainable, and encouraging such behavior is akin to encouraging fishermen to drink poison to quench their thirst.

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https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202405/1313201.shtml