6 Catholic bishops demand protection for Filipino fishers from Chinese aggressionFishermen check the floating barriers installed by the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) at the passage heading to Scarborough Shoal in the West Philippine Sea. MANILA, Philippines — Six Catholic bishops in dioceses near fisher communities have issued a rare appeal for the government to bring the full might of the law against Chinese vessels harassing Filipino fisherfolk, backing international action to stem China’s “forcible occupation” of Philippine maritime zones. Now, the bishops wrote, Filipino fisherfolk have to risk their lives by venturing far into the open sea just to bring home catch. The president’s statement came after Chinese naval assets water cannoned PCG vessels during its resupply mission to BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal. “We gratefully acknowledge statements of resoluteness about defending the resources God, in his munificence, has made available to us through the sea.

Source: Philippine Star February 05, 2024 21:44 UTC