National Maritime Council urges politicians to defend Filipino fishermen against Chinese harassment

In a recent interview, Alexander Lopez of the National Maritime Council expressed frustration that senior politicians have not spoken out against ongoing Chinese interference with Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea. He highlighted two recent incidents: Chinese vessels obstructed the transfer of a sick Philippine Navy sailor to a Coast Guard ship, causing a delay of almost ten hours, and they interfered with a resupply operation to Ayungin Shoal on September 24.

Lopez urged citizens to rally behind the national flag, emphasizing that the ocean is vital for livelihoods and the country's future. He reminded listeners of the 2016 Hague arbitration ruling that rejected China’s claims in the area, a decision still unacknowledged by Beijing. The council’s appeal seeks to pressure political leaders to publicly denounce the harassment and protect Filipino maritime interests.