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Philippines-China fishing agreement needs clarification: maritime expert
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. clarified that the Philippines and China have an agreement, not a partnership, concerning Filipino fishermen's access to fishing grounds in the South China Sea.
He emphasized that the existing arrangement with China simply allows Filipino fishermen to continue fishing in their traditional grounds, which they have utilized for generations.
Maritime law expert Jay Batongbacal stated that this fishing deal needs public clarification and disclosure.
Batongbacal suggested that the agreement should not be interpreted as permission but rather as China finally acknowledging the Philippines' rights in the West Philippine Sea.
China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea despite an international court ruling that its claims have no legal basis.
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See how different news organizations are covering this story. Below are the original articles from various Philippine news sources that contributed to this summary.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expressed hope that Chinese President Xi Jinping would be informed about the incident where the Chinese coast guard allegedly drove away Filipino fishers near Ayungin Shoal.
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China has proposed establishing partnerships with Philippine fishing villages as a potential solution to ongoing tensions in the West Philippine Sea.
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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.
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President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. stated that the Philippines will not relinquish its claims on the West Philippine Sea, emphasizing this as a non-negotiable stance.
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President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s visit to China from January 3-5 resulted in $22.8 billion in pledges from Chinese investors.
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