On Monday, the Philippines announced that they will be working on dismantling a disputed barrier reef. This barrier reef was established by the People’s Republic of China to prevent Filipino fishing vessels from entering the waters of the South China Sea, which are traditionally used by Filipinos for fishing.
Eduardo Ano, the National Security Adviser of the Philippines, stated in a press release that the authoritarian regime of China’s barrier infringes upon the traditional fishing rights of our fishermen.
The Philippine Coast Guard has reported that on Friday, the Scarborough Shoal area saw the presence of a Chinese barrier that prevents Filipino fishermen from accessing their livelihoods. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Wenbin has called the disputed waters a “core interest” of China.
In 2012, China took control of Scarborough Shoal from the Philippines, claiming sovereignty over much of the resource-rich South China Sea. Other claimants include Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam.
