China re-installs floating barriers in Scarborough Shoal

MANILA, Philippines: The China Coast Guard (CCG) installed again a floating barrier in the vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) in the West Philippine Sea which is part of the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Aside from the newly installed floating barrier, two CCG vessels (3063 and 3064) were positioned at the entrance to the lagoon, Commodore Jay Tarriela, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesman for the West Philippine Sea, reported on Saturday.

Tarriela said the CCG ships were there to monitor the floating barriers.

The speedboats of the CCG vessels were also deployed to make sure that the floating barriers are well guarded, he said.

The floating barriers were supposedly installed on February 15.

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Tarriela said there were no sightings of the floating barrier during the maritime patrol operations conducted by BRP Teresa Magbanua from February 1 to 9.

So probably the barrier was installed around the time the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) was to take its turn in conducting a maritime patrol in the area, he said.

In September 22 last year, the PCG and BFAR also discovered a floating barrier in the area when they conducted a routine maritim at the vicinity of the atoll.

Several days later, the PCG claimed it “executed a special operation” to remove the floating barrier in compliance with the instruction of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

The PCG said the barrier was removed because it posed a hazard to navigation, a clear violation of international law.

It said it also hinders the conduct of fishing and livelihood activities of Filipino fisherfolk in Bajo de Masinloc, which is an integral part of the Philippine national territory.

The PCG said the 2016 Arbitral Award has affirmed that Bajo de Masinloc is the traditional fishing ground of Filipino fishermen.

Thus, any obstruction hindering the livelihoods of Filipino fisherfolk in the shoal violates international law and infringes on the Philippines’ sovereignty over Bajo de Masinloc, the PCG said.

However, Manila-based think tank Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute (ACPSSI) president Herman Tiu Laurel called for an investigation into the “moro-moro” supposedly instigated by the PCG when it claimed that it “successfully removed” the floating barrier.

Laurel echoed the earlier declaration made by the CCG that the claim made by Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesman on the West Philippine Sea is “fictitious,” and “fabricated.”

A CCG spokesman said in a statement that the nets were deployed temporarily to prevent BFAR vessels from “illegally” entering the Huangyan Island, China’s name for Bajo de Masinloc.

Laurel said the floating barrier was voluntarily removed on Sept. 23, 2023.

The PCG later admitted that it was not able to remove the entire floating barrier but it was only its anchor that they were able to cut and retrieve.

It said they will use the anchor as evidence should the Philippine government decide to file charges against China for its activities in the West Philippine Sea.

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