MANILA – Despite the apology, President Rodrigo Duterte wanted the Chinese crew – in the vessel that rammed a Filipino fishing boat at Recto Bank – to be sanctioned, according to Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo.
He added that Duterte told Chinese President Xi Jinping about it for the “interest of closure, manifesting good faith and demonstrating China’s resort to prevent a repeat of the incident.”
“I reiterate our desire for the filing or application of appropriate sanctions against the Chinese crew,” Panelo quoted Duterte saying.
He added Duterte took note of China’s statement that it has recognized and confirmed the responsibility of the Chinese fishing crew on the incident.
Duterte also appreciated China’s readiness to provide compensation to the affected Filipino fishermen, describing it as “a step in the right direction.”
The owner of the Chinese vessel, in a letter sent to the Department of Foreign Affairs, expressed his “sincere apology” for the “accidental collision” in the West Philippine Sea. He was also willing to compensate the distressed Filipino fishermen.
Last June 9, a Chinese fishing vessel hit a Philippine fishing boat at Recto Bank. The 22 Filipino fishermen on board the Philippine boat were rescued by Vietnamese fishermen.
China, through its embassy in Manila, belied claims that the fishermen were abandoned and said the captain of its vessel tried to save them but was “afraid of being besieged by other Filipino fishing boats.”
The Recto Bank contains offshore gas reserves that both countries claim ownership of, despite it being located within the Philippines’ 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone./PN
