Maritime law expert Jay Batongbacal took exception to Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo’s insistence that the harassment of a Chinese “naval warship” of Filipino-crewed commercial ship passing by Panatag Shoal (Scarborough Shoal) is not Malacañang’s concern, reports Rappler.
Ill advised remarks
In a series of tweets on Monday, November 4, Batongbacal said Panelo’s remarks were ill-advised and could harm Philippine foreign policy on an issue as sensitive as Philippine rights in the West Phlippine Sea.
“This is just so WRONG on several levels,” said Batongbacal, director of the University of the Philippines Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea.
What is the issue?
Panelo’s explanation
On Sunday, Panelo said the harassment incident is not a concern of the Philippine government since the Filipino-crewed ship was a foreign-flagged one.
However, the incident took place in Panatag Shoal, which belongs to Philippine waters, according to Philippine laws. The 2016 Hague ruling declared the area as international fishing grounds. Chinese vessels thus have no right to regulate innocent passage of commercial ships.
Batongbacal explanation
Batongbacal explained that Malacañang should see the Chinese vessel’s actions as an affront because it was Beijing’s way of asserting control over an area it has no exclusive rights over.
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Source: Rappler
