Joint probe should clear up Recto Bank dispute
Credit to Author: Tempo Desk| Date: Thu, 27 Jun 2019 16:10:38 +0000
NINETEEN days have passed since the sinking of the Philippine fishing boat Gem Ver after it was hit by a Chinese fishing boat in the Recto Bank area in the South China Sea. During these 19 days, there have been various versions of what really happened along with a flurry of charges and counter-charges.
All the while, President Duterte stayed above the frenzy as findings of an initial government investigation differed in many ways from the early reports. President Duterte has accepted China’s proposal for a joint investigation and is now waiting for the mechanics of the probe. He also proposed the participation of a third party to assure fair play and to mediate in any differences in the course of the probe.
The investigation will focus on the collision which the Chinese boat captain said was an accident, followed by the alleged departure of the Chinese boat without helping the floundering Filipino seamen. The Chinese captain said he and his crew left because they feared for their safety as seven or eight other boats closed in on them. The Filipino boat captain initially said he believed it was a “deliberate ramming” but the boat cook said he could not be certain. The joint investigation should clear up this matter.
One point that some critics raised these last few days was the alleged violation of Philippine rights as the incident happened at Recto Bank, just west of Palawan, within the country’s 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). This is not, however, Philippine territory but a common fishing ground for Filipino, Vietnamese, as well as Chinese fishermen.
Panatag or Scarborough Shoal west of Zambales is similarly within the Philippines’ EEZ. In its ruling in 2016, the Arbitral Court in The Hague said Panatag should remain open to fishermen of various nations who have long fished in it. There should, therefore, be no claim that the Chinese or the Vietnamese fishermen should not have been at Recto Bank.
The forthcoming joint probe will thus concentrate on the collision – whether it was deliberate or accidental, therefore, a simple “maritime incident” in President Duterte’s initial assessment – and whether the Chinese crew misjudged the intent of the approaching other boats. The coming joint inquiry should clear up this matter.
This is as it should be. We are bound to have some disputes over conflicting rights and claims with some of our neighbors, but these can and should be settled in the spirit of amity. China has become a close partner in our trade, in our tourism, and in our infrastructure program. We may have disputes but we should be able to settle any differences, as we are now proceeding to do through the joint probe that President Duterte has agreed to.