Vietnamese presence in Panatag is good news, says Philippines envoy to China

MANILA, Philippines — The reported presence of Vietnamese fishing vessels at Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal is actually good news, Philippine Ambassador to China Chito Sta. Romana said Tuesday.

The United Nations-backed arbitral tribunal based in the Hague had ruled that the shoal is a traditional fishing ground of the Philippines, China, Taiwan and Vietnam.

In an interview with ANC's Hot Copy on Headstart, Sta. Romana said that Vietnamese presence in the region brings back the essence of Panatag Shoal as a common fishing ground.

"Had we known this verdict back it 2012 that it's a historical common fishing ground perhaps we should not have arrested the Chinese fishermen. It should have been a common fishing ground," Sta. Romana said.

In 2012, the Philippines was involved in a tense standoff with China over the shoal located 120 nautical miles from Zambales.

The standoff began when a Philippine Navy surveillance plane sighted eight Chinese fishing vessels anchored in a lagoon at Panatag.

The Philippine Navy then deployed warship BRP Gregorio del Pilar to inspect the Chinese vessels, wherein they discovered large amounts of illegally collected coral, giant clams and live sharks.

Sta. Romana, however, said that the 2012 Panatag Shoal standoff led to the country's loss of the traditional fishing ground.

"That is what led to our loss. We tried to enforce and say that it is ours... It is true that what is ours is ours if it's accepted by the world but in that case, the Chinese also say the same thing," the diplomat said.

There have been reports that China is building an environmental monitoring station on Panatag Shoal.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry has denied the report, saying that such facility on Panatag Shoal had been checked and was found to be false.

"That does not exist at all," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said.