PCG drives away Chinese vessel, 4 boats away from waters of Lawak Island

MANILA, October 16 ------ The Philippine Coast Guard said it has successfully driven away a Chinese fishing vessel and four boats near Lawak Island, Palawan.

In a statement, the PCG said Yuetaiyu 63168 was anchored within the territorial sea of Lawak, which is part of the Municipality of Kalayan on Thursday morning. The PCG team also found four small boats scattered in the vicinity.

The PCG said they deployed a rubber boat to document and drive away the vessels. "The PCG team issued repeated radio challenges to the Chinese fishing vessel, circling it three times, but the vessel did not respond. The team then proceeded to drive away the four small boats operating in the area," PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela said.

The PCG said their team did not leave the area until the Chinese fishing vessel heaved in its anchor and departed. The four small boats were monitored returning to their mother vessel, which then weighed anchor and left the territorial sea of Lawak Island. "Lawak Island is an integral part of the Municipality of Kalayaan, Province of Palawan. Under international law, the Philippines exercises full sovereignty over its territorial sea, where no foreign vessel may fish without authorization," Tarriela added. "The deployment of small boats from a Chinese mother vessel to conduct fishing activities in these waters is a violation of Philippine laws, including the Philippine Fisheries Code and the Philippine Maritime Zones Act."

Source: news.abs-cbn.com