Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — The Philippine Coast Guard had a standoff once again with a Taiwan Coast Guard ship off the coast of Itbayat, Batanes last week.
Upon seeing the Taiwan vessel, the PCG immediately made contact through radio to fend it off the country’s territorial waters.
The PCG warned the vessel that it’s within 23 nautical miles east of Itbayat, which is within the Philippine territory.
The Taiwan Coast Guard, however, insisted that the area is within its exclusive economic zone.
The argument lasted for two hours and only ended after the Taiwan vessel left the area.
PCG spokesman Commander Armando Balilo explained that the area is within the Philippines’ contiguous zone as per the United Nations Convention on Laws of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The two governments, however, are currently working on a fisheries agreement, which will define protocols on fishing and where it could be done.
The PCG already had five encounters with Taiwan since more than a month ago.
Last May 25, the PCG also had a four hour standoff with the Taiwan Coast Guard in Batanes.
The PCG added that it apprehended on Thursday (June 11) a Taiwanese fishing boat bearing a Philippine flag.
