Reported heavy presence of Chinese ships will not stop convoy — Atin Ito | ABS-CBN
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Reported heavy presence of Chinese ships will not stop convoy — Atin Ito
Reported heavy presence of Chinese ships will not stop convoy — Atin Ito
ABS-CBN News
Published May 13, 2024 11:23 AM PHT
This handout photo released on Feb. 11, 2024 shows Philippine Coast Guard personnel distributing food packs to fishers in Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea. Philippine Coast Guard handout photo.
This handout photo released on Feb. 11, 2024 shows Philippine Coast Guard personnel distributing food packs to fishers in Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea. Philippine Coast Guard handout photo. MANILA — Organizers of a volunteer convoy to bring food and fuel to Filipino fishers at Bajo de Masinloc (Panatag, Scarborough Shoal) are determined to push through with the trip despite reports of a heavy presence of Chinese ships sailing for the area, one of its co-convenors said.
MANILA — Organizers of a volunteer convoy to bring food and fuel to Filipino fishers at Bajo de Masinloc (Panatag, Scarborough Shoal) are determined to push through with the trip despite reports of a heavy presence of Chinese ships sailing for the area, one of its co-convenors said.
The Atin Ito convoy this week, a second attempt to bring supplies to fishers and communities in the West Philippine Sea, is a legitimate exercise of Filipino citizens' rights in Philippine waters, Atin Ito Co-convener Rafaela David said Monday.
The Atin Ito convoy this week, a second attempt to bring supplies to fishers and communities in the West Philippine Sea, is a legitimate exercise of Filipino citizens' rights in Philippine waters, Atin Ito Co-convener Rafaela David said Monday.
"Our mission is peaceful, based on international law and aimed at asserting our sovereign rights," David, who is also president of Akbayan party, said in a statement to media.
"Our mission is peaceful, based on international law and aimed at asserting our sovereign rights," David, who is also president of Akbayan party, said in a statement to media.
"The reported heavy presence of Chinese marine vessels in Bajo de Masinloc is lamentable, but not surprising. It only underscores the urgency of civilianizing the area in response to China's militarization," she also said.
"The reported heavy presence of Chinese marine vessels in Bajo de Masinloc is lamentable, but not surprising. It only underscores the urgency of civilianizing the area in response to China's militarization," she also said.
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'LARGEST BLOCKADE BY FAR'
Analyst Ray Powell of maritime monitoring initiative SeaLight has warned that China is sending "at least four coast guard and 26 large maritime militia ships" to block the Atin Ito convoy.
Analyst Ray Powell of maritime monitoring initiative SeaLight has warned that China is sending "at least four coast guard and 26 large maritime militia ships" to block the Atin Ito convoy.
He said that China "seems determined to aggressively enforce its claim over the shoal" by sending "by far the largest blockade I'll have ever tracked at Scarborough."
He said that China "seems determined to aggressively enforce its claim over the shoal" by sending "by far the largest blockade I'll have ever tracked at Scarborough."
In an interview on Teleradyo Serbisyo also on Monday, David said the convoy will have around "200 participants" joining at various points of the sea voyage to Bajo de Masinloc, a traditional fishing ground that China patrols and keeps Filipino fishers away from.
In an interview on Teleradyo Serbisyo also on Monday, David said the convoy will have around "200 participants" joining at various points of the sea voyage to Bajo de Masinloc, a traditional fishing ground that China patrols and keeps Filipino fishers away from.
According to a 2016 arbitral ruling that China refuses to acknowledge, China violated the traditional fishing rights of Filipino fisherfolk by barring access to Bajo de Masinloc.
According to a 2016 arbitral ruling that China refuses to acknowledge, China violated the traditional fishing rights of Filipino fisherfolk by barring access to Bajo de Masinloc.
David said the volunteers are bringing fuel and food packs to fishers in the area to help them stay at sea longer and get a bigger catch.
David said the volunteers are bringing fuel and food packs to fishers in the area to help them stay at sea longer and get a bigger catch.
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'INTIMIDATION IS UNITING US'
Similar activities by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the Philippine Coast Guard have been met with aggressive maneuvers and the use of water cannons by China Coast Guard vessels but David said this will not deter the volunteer convoy from sailing.
Similar activities by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the Philippine Coast Guard have been met with aggressive maneuvers and the use of water cannons by China Coast Guard vessels but David said this will not deter the volunteer convoy from sailing.
"China's actions are failing to intimidate Filipinos. Instead, they are only uniting us and inspiring us to go further in defending our rights," David said in the Atin Ito statement.
"China's actions are failing to intimidate Filipinos. Instead, they are only uniting us and inspiring us to go further in defending our rights," David said in the Atin Ito statement.
"We will sail with determination, not provocation, to civilianize the region and safeguard our territorial integrity."
"We will sail with determination, not provocation, to civilianize the region and safeguard our territorial integrity."
She also told Teleradyo Serbisyo that convoy organizers have been coordinating with the National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea for the voyage to Bajo de Masinloc.
She also told Teleradyo Serbisyo that convoy organizers have been coordinating with the National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea for the voyage to Bajo de Masinloc.
A Christmas convoy to the waters near Ayungin Shoal, also in the West Philippine Sea, had to be cut short in December after being tailed by Chinese ships but a smaller supply boat managed to reach Lawak Island to deliver supplies and donations.
A Christmas convoy to the waters near Ayungin Shoal, also in the West Philippine Sea, had to be cut short in December after being tailed by Chinese ships but a smaller supply boat managed to reach Lawak Island to deliver supplies and donations.
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