On Friday, National Institute for South China Sea Studies head Wu Shichun remarked that Chinese government is considering a "wholesale" deal that will grant Philippine fishing vessels access to the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea.
This new decision, Wu said, is in light of the improving relations of both countries since Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte visited Beijing in October for his state visit. Wu remarked, "A wholesale bilateral fishing industry deal is still being discussed, an agreement has not yet been reached."
Both the Philippines and China have been in dispute since the arbitration ruling favored the Philippines regarding the disputed territory and undermined China's territorial claims was released early this year. Since 2012, China has been blocking Filipinos from fishing in the disputed shoals. However, relations has improved dramatically after Duterte's visit and Chinese vessels have left the area.
Last week, Duterte announced that he will be barring fishermen from exploiting marine life at the disputed waters, shifting the country's policy regarding the area. Currently, the waters within the shoal are still inaccessible for both Chinese and Filipino fishermen. Wu said that the fishermen would be granted access for humanitarian reasons, especially if a typhoon hits the waters.
Wu has been a part of the diplomatic team assisting the improvement of Chinese and Filipino relations since Duterte came into office.
Zhu Feng, the director of the South China Sea Center at Nanjing University who was also in the same forum as Wu, supported his assessment and said that Chinese-Filipino relations have improved since Duterte became president.
Should the deal take into effect, Zhu adds that this may stop the disputes within the South China Sea.
China has been less specific with regards to its current plans regarding the South China Sea and how the arrangements will go to allow Filipinos to operate in the Shoal.When asked about Wu's comments, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said that China would make "appropriate arrangements to allow Filipino fishermen access to the waters."
