Zambales execs ask fishermen to keep calm

NUKE-CAPABLE BOMBER OVER SCARBOROUGH China flies a nuclear-capable H-6K bomber over Scarborough Shoal days after an international tribunal ruled in favor of the Philippines in its maritime dispute with China over the West Philippine Sea. The photo was posted on the Chinese social media site Weibo.

SUBIC, Zambales—Photos on social media of Chinese bombers flying over the disputed Scarborough Shoal on Monday prompted calls to fishermen by local officials for restraint.

“My position is that we should avoid any confrontation,” Gov. Amor Deloso said. “This is a sensitive issue so let’s wait for how the national government will handle this.”

The Chinese State Council Information Office posted on July 15 Twitter photos of China’s new H-6K bombers flying over the contested shoal.

The planes allegedly circled the shoal after the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague ruled on July 12 that China had no legal basis to claim historic rights over sea resources falling within its “nine-dash line” boundary.

Malacañang has not offered any official policy arising from the PCA ruling but has requested Filipinos to avoid provoking China.

“Definitely, I will fight for our country. All I’m asking right now if for everyone to remain calm,” Deloso said.

Norma Amata, organizer of People Power Volunteers for Reform in Zambales province, said China’s provocative actions were an indication that it would not give up on its territorial claims in the West Philippine Sea.

She said the photographs showed China’s capability to maintain its occupation of the Scarborough Shoal, 230 kilometers from Masinloc and well within the Philippines’ 370-km exclusive economic zone.

Masinloc Mayor Arsenia Lim has cautioned the fishermen against returning to the shoal. “We don’t want anyone to get hurt or to create tension,” she said. Allan Macatuno, Inquirer Central Luzon