Dr. Jay Batongbacal, director of the University of the Philippines Institute of Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea. 蜜桃工作室 file photo
A maritime law expert has called on the government to lodge a protest against China鈥檚 attempt to stop a Filipino television crew from doing a documentary on Panatag Shoal (Scarborough Shoal) in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).
鈥淚 view that as an exercise of civilian control and administration鈥hey are controlling an ordinary civilian activity, conducting interviews so that鈥檚 an indication of the extent of control that they are exercising in the area,鈥� Prof. Jay Batongbacal told reporters on Friday.
Members of the Chinese Coast Guard prevented the crew of GMA-7 from conducting interviews during their trip to Panatag Shoal early November, days before Chinese President Xi Jinping鈥檚 state visit to the Philippines early this week.
鈥淲ithout the permission of China, you cannot carry out the interview here,鈥� a smiling member of the Chinese Coast Guard told the journalist.
Batongbacal said that if the government does not speak up against the latest case of harassment of China, it would be seen acquiescence or acceptance of the situation.
鈥淐learly, the Duterte administration is accommodating in a way China鈥檚 increasing control and administration of the area,鈥� he said.
鈥淚f we don鈥檛 speak up, we have deemed to have waived our rights to that area so it鈥檚 important to make a protest.鈥� /jpv
RELATED STORY
China Coast Guard shoo away Filipino TV news crew from Panatag Shoal