What's new

China-Philippines Fishery News and Discussion

. . .
Please stay on-topic guys.

========
Foreign interference in South China Sea won’t bring prosperity to region: Duterte
(People's Daily Online) 11:27, October 19, 2016

FOREIGN201610191127000092413399359.jpg

[File photo]

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has reiterated his opposition to foreign interference in the South China Sea, warning that such unwelcome overtures would pose a great threat to regional stability.

Even though countries like the U.S. say all nations are by the Philippines’ side, I say we are close to a third world war, said Duterte during an interview with CCTV on Oct. 13. Duterte believes that stubborn insistence on territorial claims does not help with economic development.

Though the South China Sea issue has dampened the two countries’ relations, Duterte said he still has faith that China and the Philippines can “totally erase these dark spots,” adding that he wants to establish a more cohesive and stronger bond with China.

"In one word, I would say it is a defining moment of my presidency to open the frontiers of friendship and cooperation, and enhance [the] relationship between our two countries," Duterte said.

Discussing the balance of the Philippines' diplomatic ties with the U.S. and China, the president noted that his country “should not be too constrained [by] the dictates of any other country.” He also stressed that China and the Philippines are neighbors, while the U.S. is thousands of miles away.

I am not breaking away from the U.S. - I just want to be friendly with everybody. So you do not restrain me from doing [the same thing to] China. Why should we be afraid? Why should we stick to a certain country?” Duterte said.

As for his expectations for his state visit to China, the president said he hopes that better Sino-Philippines relations can benefit his country's sluggish domestic economy, adding that China is the only hope for the Philippines’ economy.

China is the first non-ASEAN country that Duterte has visited as a president. The visit, which kicked off on Oct. 18, will continue until Oct. 21.
 
.
I am not breaking away from the U.S. - I just want to be friendly with everybody. ......
.
Indeed, this is a wise thing to do.
Don't burn bridges unnecessarily.
US, EU should tone down their criticisms of Duterte.
 
.
China, Philippines to set up negotiation mechanism to resolve South China Sea disputes

Issues over contested waters to be resolved through ‘friendly consultations’ between the two states

PUBLISHED : Friday, 21 October, 2016, 3:14pm
UPDATED : Saturday, 22 October, 2016, 1:32am
Liu Zhen, SCMP

China and the Philippines will launch a bilateral mechanism to discuss South China Sea disputes, an official joint statement said on Friday.

The two countries issued the statement after President Xi Jinping met his Philippine counterpart Rodrigo Duterte in Beijing, and the two heads of state agreed to “fully recover” relations that had been damaged by their maritime dispute.

“Both sides agree to continue discussions on confidence-building measures ... and to exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities in the South China Sea that would complicate or escalate disputes,” the statement said. It did not mention the international court ruling in July on the disputes, which had been the trigger of increased bilateral tensions.

Meanwhile, a US warship carried out a freedom-of-navigation operation on Friday near Triton and Woody islands in the Paracels, claimed by Beijing, Taipei and Hanoi, US officials told Reuters. It was the US navy’s fourth operation of its kind in the disputed waters since October last year.

The Philippines filed the case to the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague in 2013 to challenge the legality of China’s “nine-dash line” claim to most of the South China Sea. The tribunal ruled in favour of the Philippines, a ruling China rejected.

Disputes would be resolved through “friendly consultations and negotiations by sovereign states directly concerned”, according to the statement. That echoed China’s stance of not letting any third party or country outside the region get involved in the disputes, which would exclude the US and Japan.

715e46b8-9770-11e6-89e7-0e47003bc2df_660x385.jpg



Duterte had also announced in Beijing his “separation” from long-time ally the United States, and a move closer to China. He will visit Japan next week after meeting with US Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russel back in Manila.

The statement said the proposed bilateral mechanism between China and the Philippines would be an addition to existing ones. The proposed mechanism would include regular discussions on each side’s concerns over the South China Sea, and the two countries would build trust, increase confidence and exercise self-restraint in conducting activities in the disputed waters, it said.

Beijing and Manila also reiterated the importance of peace and stability, as well as freedom of navigation and overflight in the region.

They also promised to stick to the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, and to try to establish a code of conduct in the waters as soon as possible.

The coastguards of the two countries would cooperate to deal with humanitarian, environmental and emergency incidents in the South China Sea, the statement said.

It was a diplomatic victory for China, particularly over the US, said Professor Wang Hanling, a specialist on maritime issues and international law at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

“But it was not China’s unilateral victory. For the Philippines, it was also a win-win situation, because the South China Sea disputes could not be solved overnight, but having a good relationship with China could only benefit their economy,” he added.

Responding to the US Navy’s recent exercise, the Chinese foreign ministry called the manoeuvre “illegal” and “provocative”. Spokesman Wu Qian, a colonel, criticised the US as a troublemaker that aimed to sow disorder in the world.


This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as:
Beijing, Manila move closer on South China Sea
 
.
Two drowning Philippine fishermen rescued in South China Sea
2016-11-29 20:42 | Xinhua | Editor: Mo Hong'e

Two Philippine fishermen, drowning in waters off Huangyan Island in the South China Sea, have been rescued by Chinese coast guard.

At a routine press briefing on Tuesday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang was asked to comment on a media report that the Philippine coast guard was searching for five Filipinos who failed to return from a fishing trip.

"China has deployed ships in search operations," Geng said.

A media report quoted Philippine coast guard officials as saying that the fishermen left waters off Huangyan Island due to an approaching typhoon last week and have not been heard from since.
 
.
'If Chinese fishermen needed our assistance, we will rescue them. That's the job of the coast guard regardless of nationality and race,' says the Philippine Coast Guard after thanking its Chinese counterpart
afp-20160807-china-coastguard-001_5A3EE56247154D3F8E3F39B5F343271F.jpg

MANILA (Updated) -- Chinese coast guard ships have rescued two Filipino fishermen in bad weather at a disputed shoal, the Philippine coast guard said Friday, in a show of how President Rodrigo Duterte has turned once-frosty relations with Beijing.

Philippine coast guard spokesman Armand Balilo said Chinese coast guard officials notified them of the rescue in the vicinity of Scarborough Shoal off the northwestern Philippines and asked how the two can be handed over to Philippine authorities.

The Philippines sent a newly acquired patrol ship from Japan, the BRP Tubbataha, but vessel could not immediately link up with the Chinese coast guard ships because of large waves in the high seas off Scarborough, Balilo said.

"This shows you that rescuing people at sea is beyond such conflicts," he said.

China seized the shoal in 2012 after a tense territorial standoff with Philippine government ships, and Chinese coast guard had blocked Filipinos from fishing there, prompting the Philippine government to bring the dispute to international arbitration.

An international tribunal in The Hague ruled in July that China has violated the rights of Filipino fishermen when it blocked them from the rich fishing area. The tribunal also invalidated China's sweeping territorial claims in the South China Sea. Beijing refused to take part in the proceedings, saying the tribunal has no jurisdiction in territorial disputes.

Duterte, who took office in June, has taken steps to repair relations with Beijing. After he met President Xi Jinping on a state visit to China in October, Filipinos were allowed back to fish near the shoal. The Philippine coast guard said it has also resumed patrols in the disputed waters.(AP)

360截图20161205194521516.jpg

PH fishermen were rescued by the Chinese coast guard.

360截图20161205194624261.jpg

PH fishermen receive health care.

360截图20161205194727102.jpg


360截图20161205195042489.jpg

Philippines Coast Guard (?) Came to carry out the transfer of fishermen.

360截图20161205194813156.jpg
360截图20161205194942333.jpg

360截图20161205195117910.jpg
 
.
Aren't these two Filipino fishermen lucky?

They were rescued by China Coast Guard.

They were given medical checkup, a meal and a friendly send-off.

All done by a friendly neighbor albeit a big one. Certainly one that you want to be on side and be friends with.
 
.
Aren't these two Filipino fishermen lucky?

They were rescued by China Coast Guard.

They were given medical checkup, a meal and a friendly send-off.

All done by a friendly neighbor albeit a big one. Certainly one that you want to on side and be friends with.
On Chinese websites, they even took a bath and changed their clean clothes.
Really lucky.
 
. .
Such a good news with happy ending. East Asia's long peace is our greatest asset in regional community making.

Now the time is to translate the long peace into long development.
 
. . .
Okay, I admit that I was wrong.
My mean, according to the details of China's website. In the Chinese coast guard on the Philippines fishermen in the bath.
It's ok, I know what you meant, just having some fun.

Welcome to the forum by the way.
 
Last edited:
.
Back
Top Bottom