‘We do not concede’ fishing rights at Scarborough; Chinese actions, a ‘fish thievery’ – Palace

 

The Philippines is not conceding to China the country’s legal rights to fish on Scarborough shoal, Malacañang said on Thursday, even calling as “fish thievery” the actions of Chinese Coast Guard officers taking the catch of Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea.

“We do not concede,” Roque said in a Palace briefing after acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio warned the government that it may lose its legal right to fish on Scarborough if it concedes to China’s narrative that it only allowed Filipino fishermen there “out of goodwill.”

Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua said on Tuesday that “some sort of barter trade” have been going on between Filipino fishermen and members of the Chinese Coast Guard after fishermen from Masinloc , Zamabales said the Chines have been taking their catch in exchange of noodles, cigarettes and water.

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