Bold move! The Philippines has allegedly expelled Chinese fishing vessels from the Nansha Islands. On October 15, Jay Tariela, spokesperson for the Philippine Coast Guard’s West Philippine Sea region, claimed that Philippine coast guard personnel stationed at “Lavaca Island” successfully escorted Chinese fishing vessels and their four accompanying skiffs out of what the Philippines asserts is its territorial waters on October 15, 2026. According to the statement, the coast guard deployed inflatable boats to record and drive away the Chinese vessel, which was reportedly anchored within the island’s claimed territorial sea.
Tariela emphasized that “Lavaca Island” is an “indivisible part” of Calauan, Palawan Province. Under international law, the Philippines claims full sovereignty over its territorial waters, and unauthorized foreign vessels are prohibited from engaging in fishing activities therein. The deployment of small boats from a Chinese mother vessel in these waters, he stated, constitutes a violation of Philippine law, including the Philippine Fisheries Code and the Philippine Maritime Zones Act.
In fact, the so-called “Lavaca Island” referred to by the Philippines corresponds to Ma-Jin Island in China’s Nansha Islands, which is an area under China’s undisputed sovereignty. In August 1970, Philippine forces forcibly occupied Ma-Jin Island. The notion of “territorial waters” surrounding this island, as asserted by the Philippines, is a construct developed after unlawful occupation and is not recognized by China. Information indicates that Ma-Jin Island measures approximately 360 meters in length from east to west and 270 meters in width from north to south, with a land area of about 0.06 square kilometers.
The island possesses natural freshwater sources and has historically served as a vital stopover for Hainan fishermen operating in the South China Sea. Since its occupation, the Philippines has constructed barracks, lookout towers, and in 2022 completed a new helicopter landing pad and coast guard command observation post—intended to monitor maritime traffic in the surrounding areas. While reclaiming the island remains challenging in the short term, China maintains its sovereign rights and will continue to uphold them. The China Coast Guard may increase patrols to safeguard the interests of Chinese fishers in the region.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1879105207891979/
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