CHINESE dredger “HONG FA 158” presence in Bucao, Zambales Friday last week, piled up the long list of mischiefs occurring for the past several months along that general location alone, prompting criticisms against China’s continuing incorrigible belligerence at the West Philippine Sea.
Anti-China campaigner Kilusang Laban sa Imperyalismo ng China (KLIC) founder Arturo Boquiren said, “(It) strongly indicates that the imperialism of China has been and will be degrading the state of the environment and marine life in the West Philippine Sea, and will ultimately affect fish supply (in the area).”
Retired University of the Philippines Baguio Economics Professor Boquiren, who established KLIC or Movement against the Imperialism of China-Philippines (MIC) on December 28, 2012 as a movement for peaceful resolution of the Spratlys and Scarborough Concerns said, “the effects will probably be long-term because marine ecology and the habitat of fishes are the ones directly affected.”
“HONG FA 158”, spotted while House leaders were consulting with local fisherfolk in Masinloc, Zambales last week, is reportedly under a bareboat charter with Oromarine. It had been identified as being operated by the China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), a contractor for a reclamation project in Manila Bay, and was tied to the China Communications Construction Company (CCCC).
The CCCC has been implicated in the reclamation and construction of artificial islands in the contested waters off the WPS. The Chinese dredger’s presence in the area which contravenes the suspension of sand dredging activities in Zambales following environmental complaints, Prof. Boquiren said, “(is) deplorable,” adding, “ultimately, world fish supply will be affected as lives and ecology are interrelated.”
Only last March the Philippine Coast Guard detained 17 of 28 vessels involved in Zambales dredging. Rear Admiral Armando Balilo of the Coast Guard had said that three of these vessels were foreign (China, Sierra Leone and Panama), while 25 are bareboat charters registered in the Philippines.
Coast Guard personnel who conducted marine environmental protection (MEP) inspection and vessel safety enforcement inspection (VSEI) on board these vessels found 344 deficiencies.
Last March 19, 2024, the Port State Control (PSC) Division of Subic inspected three foreign vessels that were involved in dredging activities: cutter suction dredger (China) with six deficiencies; anchor boat (Sierra Leone) with seven deficiencies; and tugboat (Panama) with 12 deficiencies. Earlier on, former Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. previously recommended terminating contracts with Chinese firms sanctioned for their involvement in China’s controversial island-building campaign in the South China Sea.
This recommendation came after the United States sanctioned several Chinese companies for their role in the reclamation and militarization of the disputed waters. “We call on environmentalists, the entire Filipino people and all citizens from all nations to dissuade China from her imperialist ways and follow the 2012 arbitral ruling of the UNCLOS,” Prof. Boquiren of KLIC said.
“The presence of international forces in the WPS is a step in the correct direction to dissuade the imperialism of China from degrading the state of the environment, marine life and fish habitats in the WPS,” he stressed. He also called on the Chinese people to ask their government “to cease and desist from imperialism and live up to its so-called socialist ideals”.
While during last Friday’s public consultation by the House Committees on national defense and security on the WPS in Zambales, House Speaker Martin Romualdez called for unity in supporting the rights of Filipino fisherfolk at Scarborough Shoal (Panatag Shoal).
Senior Deputy Speaker and Pampanga 3rd District Representative Aurelio Gonzales Jr. delivered Romualdez’s message to local fishermen and officials.
“You are not alone in this fight. Various sectors of society, including your representatives Jefferson Khonghun and Doris Maniquiz, stand with you. Their offices are open to address your concerns,” said Gonzales, stressing Romualdez’s call for unity.
“Let’s remain united and continue to fight for our right to fish in Bajo de Masinloc, which is part of our territory and belongs to the Philippines.”
Masinloc and Sta. Cruz fishermen present in the consultation shared their harrowing experiences of harassment by the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG), including recent water cannon attacks. These incidents have severely impacted the livelihoods of approximately 1,400 fishermen in the region.
