The Philippine government will not stop the Filipino fishermen from fishing in the West Philippine Sea as it refused to acknowledge China’s unilaterally imposed fishing ban.

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“We do not recognize China’s fishing ban,” the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Friday, August 18.

DFA said what Beijing did was an “illegal exercise of state authority” considering that the ban covered the Philippines maritime zones.

In fact, Beijing’s fishing ban has actually been the subject of the government’s diplomatic protests, the DFA said, adding it will not stop doing so.

“We urge China to take active measures at port to prevent its fishing fleets from encroaching into our territorial sea and EEZ,” it said.

“The Philippines is ready to take law enforcement measures on illegal fishing activities in its waters,” it added.

Source:
courtesy of MANILA BULLETIN

by JOSEPH PEDRAJAS

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