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Assistance given by a Chinese naval vessel to a Filipino fisherman off Zambales does not violate Philippine sovereignty, reports the Manila Times.
International law expert Melissa Loja said search and rescue at sea is a centuries-old obligation predating the law of the sea. She noted that conventions such as the UN Law of the Sea (UNCLO) formalise this duty, and politicizing humanitarian efforts undermines maritime law.
Ms Loja stressed that freedom of navigation allows any Chinese vessel to traverse the Philippine EEZ, just as Philippine vessels can sail in China's EEZ. She said only wartime conditions would alter this.
She criticised claims that China's rescue could assert sovereignty, calling it a grotesque misinterpretation of international law. Humanitarian operations differ legally from law enforcement acts, which alone constitute exercises of sovereignty.
Her comments followed Philippine Coast Guard criticism of the Chinese vessel's presence. PCG spokesman Jay Tarriela dismissed the aid as a PR stunt, saying the embassy exaggerated details and failed to disclose the location.
Mr Tarriela said the incident occurred 71 nautical miles off Zambales within the Philippine EEZ. He added the PLA Navy provided only a bottle of water and biscuits, and did not coordinate with the PCG.
https://www.shippingazette.com/news?news_id=9251200001301
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