DFA: Filipinos have right to fish in Ayungin Shoal

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) affirmed that Filipinos have the right to fish in Ayungin Shoal, which falls within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf.

This statement was issued in response to reports of the Chinese Coast Guard expelling Filipino fishermen in the area.

DFA spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza asserted that the Philippines has sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the area, free from any foreign intervention.

Filipino fishermen are entitled to exercise their rights and receive their due under both Philippine and international law, specifically citing the 1982 UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Award.

The Philippines has maintained a permanent presence in Ayungin Shoal since 1995 with the commissioned naval vessel, BRP Sierra Madre.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. stated that the Philippine side had used a communication mechanism established with China following the Ayungin incident.

In a prior visit, Marcos and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to establish a hotline between Manila and Beijing to prevent the escalation of tensions in the South China Sea and quickly resolve conflicts.