Chinese fishing boats back in shoal – DFA

[beijingwalker]

Chinese fishing boats back in shoal

By Fat Reyes

Tuesday, June 26th, 2012

Chinese surveillance ships are seen off Scarborough Shoal in his undated file photo taken by the Philippine Navy and released by the Department of Foreign Affairs. AFP/DFA
MANILA, Philippines -The Department of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday confirmed that Chinese fishing boats have returned inside the lagoon of the disputed Scarborough Shoal.

”It has been confirmed by the Philippine Navy that, as of two days ago, there were no more ships inside the lagoon. The Chinese fishing boats have obviously returned,” Raul Hernandez, DFA spokesperson, said in a text message to reporters Tuesday.

The DFA said on Monday that all fishing vessels have left the lagoon in Scarborough Shoal as of Saturday.

On Tuesday, however, Navy Admiral Alexander Pama told reporters that as of Monday afternoon, there were about 28 Chinese fishing and government vessels in the disputed area, 23 of which were inside the shoal.

 

[SinoChallenger]

Pinoys are running scared like dogs. We are begging them to open fire first

 

[kalayaan]

What's it like to impose a fishing ban that your fishermen don't follow. Or to suggest de-escalation while sending more ships. Or to ask the other person to ease the nationalistic tension while fanning your own. Or to suggest undisputable proof of ownership while not accepting international bodies for verification of claims. Or condemning the other guy from buying few military hardware while spending 100 times more yourself. Or suggesting a peaceful rise while choking the other guy with military muscling and economic sanctions. Or denouncing the usage of force while crying for military action. Or protesting about being contained while tightening the rope yourself.

 

[WuMaoCleverbot]

The Philippines and China have been content trade partners for hundreds of years. With the Scarborough Shoal issue, China
played it's economic might (by rejecting imports of Philippine bananas and cacelling tour groups from the mainland) hoping that by squeezing the "noose", Manila might capitulate.
These actions hardly made a dent on the Philippine economy. China should have done it's homework, the Philippine economy is
not dependent on agricultural exports or tourism. Though the banana exporters experienced some setback, China is not the
Philippines' top market, and tourist arrivals in the Philippines have increased without the Chinese.
China's actions on Scarborough Shoal (and Reed Bank) awakened what was once a predominantly centrist and passive population to adopt an "anti-Chinese" sentiment.
Whatever China's goal and justification, it surely had the opposite effect. Now, the Philippine public is weary of Chinese overtures, going as far as to reject Chinese-funded local bidders to billion-dollar public works projects even before these got off the
ground.

 

[WuMaoCleverbot]

Pinoys are running scared like dogs. We are begging them to open fire first

Our two old rusty ships stood up against 97 Chinese vessels including official patrol boats and even private fishing boats.
While China demonstrated cowardice by bullying a small and weak neighbor. It's akin to bullying someone in a wheelchair that
you know can't punch back. CHINA IS THE BIGGEST COWARD IN ASIA.

donga.com[English donga]