Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio has recommended that the Philippines seek assistance from the international tribunal to establish ground rules for fishing in Scarborough Shoal. This move aims to prevent further conflicts between Filipino, Chinese, and Vietnamese fishermen in the area. The Hague-based tribunal previously ruled that the shoal is a common fishing ground among the three nations.
Carpio emphasized the importance of laying down clear guidelines to determine how many tons each side can catch annually, allowing fish populations to recover, and implementing fishing seasons. He proposed that the Philippines present these ground rules to China and Vietnam for approval. If they fail to agree, he suggested submitting them to the tribunal for final determination.
The retired justice also expressed skepticism about the possibility of creating a code of conduct between the Philippines and China to prevent further encounters in the West Philippine Sea. He believes that such an agreement would be used by China to legitimize its island-building activities and air and naval bases.
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