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Chinese Vessels Leave Disputed Fishing Grounds in South China Sea Chinese Vessels Leave Disputed Fishing Grounds in South China Sea
(about 7 hours later)
MANILA — Chinese vessels have quietly abandoned the contested Scarborough Shoal, the Philippine government said Friday, apparently a concession by Beijing after a visit to China by President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines.MANILA — Chinese vessels have quietly abandoned the contested Scarborough Shoal, the Philippine government said Friday, apparently a concession by Beijing after a visit to China by President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines.
Ernesto Abella, the president’s spokesman, told reporters at the presidential palace in Manila that there had been no sign of Chinese Coast Guard vessels in that part of the South China Sea since Tuesday. Filipino fishermen, who had been chased away from their traditional fishing grounds at the shoal after the Chinese arrived in 2012, can fish there once again, he said.Ernesto Abella, the president’s spokesman, told reporters at the presidential palace in Manila that there had been no sign of Chinese Coast Guard vessels in that part of the South China Sea since Tuesday. Filipino fishermen, who had been chased away from their traditional fishing grounds at the shoal after the Chinese arrived in 2012, can fish there once again, he said.
“For the past three days, it has been observed that there are no longer any Chinese Coast Guard vessels and that Filipino fishing boats are no longer being intercepted and that they are now able to fish in the area without being intercepted,” he said.“For the past three days, it has been observed that there are no longer any Chinese Coast Guard vessels and that Filipino fishing boats are no longer being intercepted and that they are now able to fish in the area without being intercepted,” he said.
The apparent departure by the Chinese ships signals a further warming of relations between China and the Philippines since Mr. Duterte, a former mayor with a strong anti-American streak, took office on June 30.The apparent departure by the Chinese ships signals a further warming of relations between China and the Philippines since Mr. Duterte, a former mayor with a strong anti-American streak, took office on June 30.
“Happy to confirm that Filipino fishermen are able to fish anew in Scarborough Shoal,” said Harry Roque, a Philippine congressman who traveled with Mr. Duterte to Beijing last week. “This is the most important gain of the president’s visit to China and proof that the president’s pivot to Asia has been successful in promoting the right of our fishermen to pursue their traditional livelihood.”“Happy to confirm that Filipino fishermen are able to fish anew in Scarborough Shoal,” said Harry Roque, a Philippine congressman who traveled with Mr. Duterte to Beijing last week. “This is the most important gain of the president’s visit to China and proof that the president’s pivot to Asia has been successful in promoting the right of our fishermen to pursue their traditional livelihood.”
China asserts a historic right to the South China Sea, which could give it control over extensive fishing grounds and an important shipping lane. It has seized territory claimed by other nations and built artificial islands apparently for military purposes. The United States fears that China plans to build a bigger military base on Scarborough Shoal, which is about 140 miles from the Philippine coast.China asserts a historic right to the South China Sea, which could give it control over extensive fishing grounds and an important shipping lane. It has seized territory claimed by other nations and built artificial islands apparently for military purposes. The United States fears that China plans to build a bigger military base on Scarborough Shoal, which is about 140 miles from the Philippine coast.
Benigno S. Aquino III, who took a tougher line with China as the Philippine president, filed a challenge in 2013 over the shoal with an international tribunal in The Hague. The court issued its ruling after Mr. Duterte took office and handed China a major defeat, rejecting its position on every major point. Benigno S. Aquino III, who took a tougher line with China as the Philippine president, filed a challenge in 2013 over the shoal with a tribunal in The Hague. The court issued its ruling after Mr. Duterte took office, rejecting China’s position on every major point.
Mr. Duterte, legal victory in hand, decided to give China a face-saving opportunity to leave Scarborough Shoal while blasting Washington, a longtime ally of the Philippines. In Beijing last week, he announced that he wanted a “separation” from the United States.Mr. Duterte, legal victory in hand, decided to give China a face-saving opportunity to leave Scarborough Shoal while blasting Washington, a longtime ally of the Philippines. In Beijing last week, he announced that he wanted a “separation” from the United States.
Privately, he made it clear that he wanted China to grant Filipino fishermen the right to return to the shoal. He returned to the Philippines with $24 billion in Chinese loan and investment commitments, but there was apparently no agreement on Scarborough Shoal.Privately, he made it clear that he wanted China to grant Filipino fishermen the right to return to the shoal. He returned to the Philippines with $24 billion in Chinese loan and investment commitments, but there was apparently no agreement on Scarborough Shoal.
After visiting Beijing, Mr. Duterte traveled this week to Tokyo, where he announced he would revoke a military agreement with the United States that gives it access to five military bases in the Philippines, including one close to the disputed shoal. Removing United States access to the bases would be a major victory for China.After visiting Beijing, Mr. Duterte traveled this week to Tokyo, where he announced he would revoke a military agreement with the United States that gives it access to five military bases in the Philippines, including one close to the disputed shoal. Removing United States access to the bases would be a major victory for China.
Richard Javad Heydarian, who teaches political science at De La Salle University in Manila, said the apparent pullout of the Chinese vessels reflected an “emerging rapprochement” between the two rivals in the South China Sea.Richard Javad Heydarian, who teaches political science at De La Salle University in Manila, said the apparent pullout of the Chinese vessels reflected an “emerging rapprochement” between the two rivals in the South China Sea.
“It seems Duterte has secured a provisional joint fishing arrangement with Beijing as part of a package of confidence-building measures to diffuse maritime tensions,” he said. “He simply couldn’t go home empty-handed on the issue and with business deals alone.” “It seems Duterte has secured a provisional joint fishing arrangement with Beijing as part of a package of confidence-building measures to defuse maritime tensions,” he said. “He simply couldn’t go home empty-handed on the issue and with business deals alone.”
But Mr. Heydarian said it was too early to tell how long the arrangement would stand because there appeared to be no formal agreement. “China is unlikely to make any lasting compromise unless on its own terms,” he said. But Mr. Heydarian said it was too early to tell how long the arrangement would stand.
Reports that Chinese Coast Guard vessels had left Scarborough Shoals were not confirmed by Chinese state-run media or by the State Oceanic Administration, which oversees the coast guard. Calls to the administration on Friday evening went unanswered. Reports that Chinese Coast Guard vessels had left Scarborough Shoal were not confirmed by Chinese state-run media. Calls to the administration on Friday evening went unanswered.
But earlier in the day, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs sounded a conciliatory note about Philippine fishing boats’ returning. Lu Kang, a ministry spokesman, said at a regularly scheduled news briefing on Friday that China and the Philippines could “control disagreements and open up cooperation” in the South China Sea.But earlier in the day, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs sounded a conciliatory note about Philippine fishing boats’ returning. Lu Kang, a ministry spokesman, said at a regularly scheduled news briefing on Friday that China and the Philippines could “control disagreements and open up cooperation” in the South China Sea.