A GIFT OF PHILIPPINE TERRETORIAL WATERS FOR PEACE?

A GIFT OF PHILIPPINE TERRETORIAL WATERS FOR PEACE?

The Philippine government in a bid to ease tensions triggered by theMay 9 shooting incident resulting to the death pf a 65 year-old Taiwanese fisherman,  President Benigno Aquino, son of Corazon C. Aquino, has said openly several times that his country is willing to discuss fishery cooperation with Taiwan, for tilting toward Taiwan in bilateral fishery talks, a potential deal as being like handing the nation's marine wealth on a silver platter to Taiwan at the expense of the sovereignty and territorial rights of the Philippines' 100 million people which it said would undermine the interests of millions of Filipino fishermen.

If a fishery agreement were to be signed with Taiwan, it would effectively expand a Philippine-Taiwan Sea Lane Accord which was signed in the Marcos era, but then strengthened by an executive order signed by former President Corazon C. Aquino in 1991.

On June 14, Taiwan and the Philippines held a first preparatory meeting in Manila to lay the groundwork for more formal bilateral fishery talks in the future and eventually a fishing agreement.

The Philippines Representatives and of Taiwan are meeting again in early July to continue negotiating on fishing operations in their overlapping exclusive economic zones, but international law expert Harry Roque says the talks should be aimed at concluding an agreement between the Philippines and a local government of China to avoid violating the Philippines’ one-China policy. Under that policy, the Philippines has diplomatic relations only with China, which considers Taiwan its province.

Is this a scheme to make our sovereignity over our territorial waters a gift on silver plate to Taiwan to appease the Taiwanese ire for the blunders of PCG?

What about the rights of our fisherfolks, is the government safeguarding it with this eventual accord? The Philippines only has a few fishing boats capable of sailing into the Taiwan Strait, while Taiwan's more sophisticated fishing ships can often enter Filipino waters to fish for tuna and other high-value catches.

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