Manila: Fishermen’s safety at risk if trained as maritime warriors — lawmaker

[John George]

A Philippine congressman on Monday opposed giving fishermen
intelligence and security roles within the country’s exclusive
economic zone in the South China Sea amid rising tensions with China,
citing their safety.

“Let soldiers, professionals and trained reservists do the job, not
the fishermen,” Party-list Rep. Alfred C. de los Santos said in a
statement.

“It would be better to mobilize the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)
auxiliaries and military reservists if the PCG and Armed Forces of the
Philippines need more people to gather evidence and intelligence,” he
added.

House of Representatives appropriations committee Chairman and
Party-list Rep. Elizaldy S. Co earlier said lawmakers would realign
the combined P650-million confidential and intelligence funds of the
Office of the Vice President (OVP) and Department of Education (DepEd)
to intelligence and security offices.

Among the agencies that will benefit from the intelligence funds are
the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), National
Security Council (NSA), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Bureau of
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.

The House on Wednesday night passed House Bill 8980 or the General
Appropriations bill on third and final reading. Senators are still
holding budget hearings and are expected to pass their version of the
bill next month.

Chester B. Cabalza, founding president of Manila-based International
Development and Security Cooperation, said Filipino fishermen should
be trained in maritime domain because they are most vulnerable to
rising tensions in the disputed water.

“In China, their fishermen in the South China Sea are highly trained
maritime militia and informers who can gather intelligence
information,” he said in a Facebook Messenger chat. “They are trained
to fight in the maritime domain to protect their national interest.”

Fishermen are “stakeholders in the West Philippine Sea,” he said,
referring to areas of the South China Sea within the country’s
exclusive economic zone. Training them as “maritime warriors” would
benefit coastal communities, he added.

China, which claims more than 80% of the South China Sea, had ignored
a 2016 ruling by a United Nations-backed arbitration court that voided
its claim based on a 1940s map.

The Philippines has failed to enforce the ruling and has since filed
hundreds of protests over what it calls encroachment and harassment of
Philippine coast guard and fishermen by China’s coast guard and its
vast fishing fleet.

Meanwhile, China would probably boost public diplomacy and work with
more national and local political elites amid resentment over its
actions in the South China Sea, Mr. Cabalza said.

Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio last week met with China’s Fujian
province Governor Zhao Long in Davao City, which renewed its sister
city deal with the Chinese province. Her father, former President
Rodrigo R. Duterte, also met with the Chinese official.

China is boosting ties with “popular political elites and solid
dynastic political families” to repair its tainted reputation among
many Filipinos, he said.

“The dichotomy of national security and regional or provincial
resiliency presents a missing link in fostering a robust national
interest,” he said, noting that many local politicians prioritize
parochial over national interests.

“This is where the gap in our foreign policy lies,” Mr. Cabalza said,
adding that there should be a clear policy as to what extent local
governments could pursue partnerships with foreign cities. “Foreign
policy must be explicitly defined so local leaders can abide by abide
it.”

Ms. Carpio and Mr. Zhao also discussed Davao exports of durian to China.

“This negotiation started during my administration as a Davao City
mayor with the help of the Consulate General of the People’s Republic
of China in Davao,” she said.

Ms. Carpio’s brother, Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte, also
attended the meeting.

Davao City is the bailiwick of the Duterte clan, which has been known
for their strong ties to China.

The ex-President pursued a foreign policy pivot to China in 2016 in
exchange for investment pledges, only few of which materialized.

“Entreating political elites is part of diplomacy,” Lucio B. Pitlo
III, a research fellow at the Asia-Pacific Pathways to Progress
Foundation, said via Messenger chat. “Major countries are investing in
this.”

“China will be no different. Expect China to catch up in this
department, rolling the red carpet to visiting foreign leaders after
almost three years of hiatus due to the pandemic,” he added.

Mr. Pitlo said the Philippines is important in China’s neighborhood
diplomacy so it is expected to “spare much effort to court the country
and promote dialogue to address differences.”

Tensions between the countries have escalated in recent months, with
the Philippines vowing to stand up to China’s expansive activities
within its 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone in the South
China Sea.

Mr. Pitlo said it’s normal for Philippine government officials to
receive and meet with their Chinese counterparts because China is the
Philippines’ largest trade partner.

https://www.bworldonline.com/the-nation/2023/10/02/549262/fishermens-safety-at-risk-if-trained-as-maritime-warriors-lawmaker/