Satellite image shows large Chinese flotilla spotted near Pagasa island on December 20, 2018. (ASIA MARITIME TRANSPARENCY INITIATIVE file photo)
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Tuesday described as “little progress” the incident in which a Chinese navy vessel tailed a civilian patrol boat of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).
His comments followed a Philippine Coast Guard report on the incident west of Palawan.
“Yung latest na report ay sinundan na lang. Hindi na kagaya ng dati na talagang hinaharang. So there’s a little progress there,” observed the President.
(The latest report is it was just followed. Not like before when it was being blocked. So there’s little progress there.)
He made these remarks in an ambush interview at the Department of Agriculture.
Marcos gave weight to BFAR’s projection that more fish would be caught in the area due to the open communications with China.
“That is because we are continuing to talk with the Chinese government, to President [Xi Jinping] in every way,” he said.
“Ang inuna ko talaga nung kami ay nagkita, sinabi ko talaga ay ‘Unahin na lang natin yung fisheries. Huwag na natin pag-usapan yung teritoryo dahil hindi naman tayo makakapag-decide habang nandito tayo,’” he had emphasized to the Chinese leader.
(That was what I put forward first when we met. I told him, ‘Let’s prioritize fisheries. Let’s not talk about the territory because we know we cannot decide while we are here.’)
Marcos said what is important to him is that there is a constant exchange between the two countries involved in a sea dispute.
“We are slowly making progress because the key to that was the improved communication between the Philippine government and the Chinese government,” he said.
Pag-asa is the second largest island in what is known as the Spratly Islands or simply Spratlys.
It is about 500 kilometers west of Puerto Princesa city.
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