Fishermen found an ocean bottom seismometer, or OBS, in a recent trip to the West Philippine Sea, about 239km northwest of Infanta, Pangasinan. The equipment, bearing Chinese characters and used in oil exploration, was recovered within the country’s exclusive economic zone. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
CLARK FREEPORT (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN): Filipinos barred by the Chinese coast guard from fishing in Scarborough Shoal (also known as Panatag Shoal) off Zambales province have recently found a device reportedly used in oil exploration.
The equipment, which bore Chinese characters, was confirmed by an expert to be an ocean bottom seismometer or OBS, according to the Peoples Development Institute (PDI), a partner of the fishers federation Bigkis ng Mangingisda.
China's expansion in contested waters in the South China Sea has been a long-time problem for fishing communities in the Philippines. Now, a pandemic-fueled economic downturn has made things even worse.
Published May 11, 2021, 7:48 PM
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Tuesday issued a “last warning” against those who “talked tough and ended up biting dirt” following the confusion caused by the statement of Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque regarding the Philippine stand on Julian Felipe Reef in the West Philippine Sea.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. discusses the West Philippine Sea issue in a meeting with President Duterte and other Cabinet members in Davao City on May 10, 2021 (Malacañang)
Prior to Locsin’s latest tweet on Roque’s faux pas, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has reiterated that the Philippine statement claiming Julian Felipe Reef as part of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone “remains unchanged”.
International public opinion has raised concern over the oppressive Coast Guard Law of China, saying that Beijing uses the law to legalise its coast guard force
Int l community raises concern over China s coast guard law, calling it verbal threat ANI | Updated: May 01, 2021 15:01 IST
Hanoi [Vietnam], May 1 (ANI): International public opinion has raised concern over the oppressive Coast Guard Law of China, saying that Beijing uses the law to legalise its coast guard force s use of violence to serve the country s unilateral sovereignty claim in the East Sea (also known as the South China Sea).
According to VNA, the Coast Guard Law of China was adopted at the 25th session of the Standing Committee of the country s 13th National People s Congress in late January and officially became effective on February 1.