China has confirmed the deployment of floating barriers in Scarborough Shoal following an incident where a Philippine vessel allegedly intruded into its waters. The Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Wang Wenbin, provided the official statement on the matter.
According to Wang, on September 22, a vessel from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources of the Philippines entered the adjacent waters of Huangyan Dao (Scarborough Shoal) without China’s permission and attempted to access its lagoon. China asserted that Huangyan Dao has always been its territory and maintains “indisputable sovereignty” over the island.
Wang stated that the China Coast Guard took necessary measures to block and drive away the Philippine vessel, characterizing their actions as professional and restrained.
On September 22, 2023, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) reported the discovery of a 300-meter floating barrier near Bajo de Masinloc Shoal during a routine maritime patrol.
In response to this development, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) instructed the PCG to remove the floating barrier situated at the southeast entrance of Bajo de Masinloc.
Local fishermen at Bajo de Masinloc have reported that the China Coast Guard deploys the floating barrier whenever Filipino fishermen’s boats approach the shoal. The PCG emphasized its commitment to upholding international law, protecting Filipino fisherfolk’s welfare, and asserting the Philippines’ rights in its territorial waters.
Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, is located 124 nautical miles west of Zambales and falls within the Philippines’ 200-nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Apart from impeding Filipino fishing activities, the PCG contended that the floating barrier posed navigation hazards and constituted a clear violation of international law. The situation reflects ongoing tensions and disputes in the South China Sea region.
