China-Philippines Fishery News and Discussion

[SBUS-CXK]

It's ok, I know what you meant, just having some fun.

Welcome too the forum by the way.

You are naughty.

 

[TaiShang]

Good-will generates good-will.

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12 Chinese fishermen to be released by the Philippines

CRI, December 6, 2016

A court in the Philippines has issued an order for the release of 12 Chinese fishermen who were arrested and sentenced to long-term jail time for fishing in Philippine territory, the Philippine daily newspaper the Chinese Commercial News reported.

On April, 2013, the Philippine police arrested 12 Chinese fishermen when their fishing vessel ran aground in Tubbataha Reef.

The coral reef is well within Philippine territory. The fishermen say they were taking refuge there during a storm.

Later in 2014, the Palawan court in the Philippines convicted the fishermen of poaching and violating the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park Act of 2009.

They were the first foreigners to be found guilty of violating the law, according to the South China Morning Post.

The vessel's captain, Liu Wenjie, was sentenced to 12 years in prison, and 11 other fishermen got sentences ranging from 6 to 10 years.

A public attorney defending these men told Reuters that he believes the Chinese fishermen are innocent. "They did not intend to go into Philippine territory, but were forced there by bad weather," the lawyer said.

The exact release date for these fishermen is not clear at the moment.

 

[ahojunk]

There is no point when two neighbors are trying to antagonize each other on the urging of a third party.

The people who lose are the two neighbors at the benefit of the third party.

Fantastic that CN and PH are able to come to an agreement which is a win-win situation for both.

The main beneficiaries are their fishermen, who are trying to earn a living.

 

[TaiShang]

There is no point when two neighbors are trying to antagonize each other on the urging of a third party.

The people who lose are the two neighbors at the benefit of the third party.

Fantastic that CN and PH are able to come to an agreement which is a win-win situation for both.

The main beneficiaries are their fishermen, who are trying to earn a living.

Definitely agree.

When we are too focused on the bigger picture, the grand geopolitics, we may at times lose sight on the smaller stories; people that actually are influenced by decisions made at the state or inter-state levels.

In the SCS case, the people are the fishermen and all the fishing communities and local industries that are earning their livelihood for hundreds of years in the same manner.

Therefore, I actually found it as a positive step when China allowed PH fishermen to fish near Huangyan island.

I think only through cooperation we can ensure a regional framework that would protect those fishing communities and ensure environmental protection so that competitive over-fishing would not deplete the resources.

Again, it is a win-win.

 

[ahojunk]

12 Chinese fishermen released by Philippines
By Li Yan (People's Daily Online) 17:14, January 22, 2017

Twelve Chinese fishermen left from the Philippine capital of Manila on Jan. 20, bound for Xiamen in southeastern China's Fujian province, Chinese Commercial News reported. The Philippine court reportedly issued an order for the release of the fishermen on Dec. 1, 2016. The fishermen expressed their gratitude in a letter to the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines, as well as to other organizations that offered help.

In April 2013, the fishermen were arrested when their vessel ran aground in Tubbataha Reefs due to bad weather. In 2014, a Palawan court convicted the fishermen of poaching and violating the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park Act of 2009, sentencing them to prison.


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China's background diplomacy is working.
These fishermen were jailed during Aquino's term but are now released during Duterte's term.
Perhaps more goodies coming PH's way.
.