By Priam Nepomuceno
MANILA – Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Monday discounted Chinese calls for a common fishing ground within Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) in West Philippine Sea (WPS) as part of efforts to ease tensions between the two nations.
“Hindi tayo pinanganak kahapon (we were not born yesterday),” Teodoro said when asked by reporters regarding this plan raised by Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Jing Quan to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
The DND chief also stressed that this right was already recognized under the landmark Arbitral Award, which came out on July 12, 2016.
The ruling invalidated China’s expansive “Nine-Dash-Line” claim in the South China Sea.
“So bakit siya magsa-submit ng proposal, nadyan na yan sa Arbitral Award eh (So why would he submit that proposal when it is already in the Arbitral Award),” Teodoro pointed out.
“So anong gusto niyang mangyari ngayon? Tatanggap ka ng proposal na sasabihin mo dahil sa proposal nila kaya nagka-fishing ground eh nakalagay na yun dyan e common fishing ground with our EEZ (exclusive economic zone)? So, sino niloko nila. (So, what does he want to happen now? That we will accept the proposal that says a fishing ground was established because of their proposal when it fact it is already a common fishing ground with our EEZ. Who are they fooling?),” he said.
Teodoro also questioned the timing of this move and how it was done in a public manner, calling it a “PR” (public relations) move considering China’s aggressive actions against the Philippines in the WPS. (PNA)
