MANILA, Philippines (Reuters) — The territorial dispute between the Philippines and China in the South China Sea has all but wrecked the livelihoods of these Filipino fishermen.
The Philippines won an international court ruling in its favor over who owns the Scarborough Shoal.
China’s rejected that ruling and has stopped the Filipino fishermen entering the waters in and around the Shoal since 2012.
Now they’re hoping their president’s impending visit to China will restore their decades-old livelihoods.
Fishing Boat Captain Nesal Milanio Saying:
“I hope the president will push the issue in their bilateral talks, or at least allow us to fish while the talks are happening. We’re not soldiers fighting against them.”
Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte’s pursuing a less aggressive line with China over the dispute.
Ramon Casiple of the Institute for Political and Electoral Reform in Manila says it’s a tactic to get China on his side.
“After what happened to the relationship between China and the Philippines during the Aquino administration, he’s trying to bring it back to normal friendly level in order to start a bilateral negotiation,” Casiple said.
For now the fishermen of Pangasinan Province must look elsewhere for their catches.
They say the fish they get now is nothing like the amount they pulled from the rich waters of the Scarborough Shoal but it’s safer than confrontation with the Chinese coastguard.
