Marilyn Cahatol

The presence of the China Coast Guard (CCG) persists despite the effort of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to block them and assist the four main vessels of the second civilian resupply mission of the Atin Ito Coalition to the Bajo de Masinloc or Panatag Shoal in the West Philippine Sea on May 15, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Bianca Dava

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 960px; display: block;" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178332225621720240516-atin-ito-wps-MT-46.jpg" style="width: 960px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align: left;">The presence of the China Coast Guard (CCG) persists despite the effort of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to block them and assist the four main vessels of the second civilian resupply mission of the Atin Ito Coalition to the Bajo de Masinloc or Panatag Shoal in the West Philippine Sea on May 15, 2024. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News&nbsp;</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA &mdash; Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Monday dismissed China&rsquo;s Ambassador to the Philippines Jing Quan&rsquo;s proposal to establish a common fishing area in Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal, saying the Philippines was &ldquo;not born yesterday&rdquo; and describing the move as a public relations stunt.&nbsp;</p><p>Teodoro stressed that the country&rsquo;s fishing rights are already recognized under the landmark 2016 Arbitral Award.</p><p>&ldquo;Hindi tayo pinanganak kahapon. &lsquo;Yan ay karapatan under the Arbitral Award. So, bakit siya magsa-submit ng proposal? Nandiyan na &lsquo;yan sa Arbitral Award. So, anong gusto niyang mangyari ngayon? Tatanggap ka ng proposal na sasabihin mo dahil sa proposal nila kaya nagka-common fishing ground. Nakalagay na &lsquo;yan diyan eh&mdash;common fishing ground within our EEZ (exclusive economic zone). So, sino niloko nila?&rdquo; Teodoro told reporters in a chance interview in Quezon City.</p><p>The Chinese official on Friday said he &ldquo;recently submitted a proposal to the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) to replicate a successful model from ten years ago: establishing a common fishing area.&rdquo;</p><p>Teodoro said the proposal appeared to be more of a public relations effort than a sincere attempt to address the tensions.</p><p>&ldquo;At bakit ngayon lang? At bakit sa publiko niya ginawa? PR ang gawa noon. Ngayon, sa kabila naman nito, ang dami nilang kabalbalan na ginagawa sa mga PR outlets nila. Hindi lang ito, pati ibang mga bansa ginagawan nila ng paglabag sa international law. Hindi lang sa atin, [kundi pati] sa Japan, sa India, ang dami nilang ginagawa. So ba&rsquo;t ka maniniwala?&rdquo; he said.</p><p>The defense chief added that the Philippines should remain steadfast despite China&rsquo;s long-term strategy in pursuing its claims.</p><p>&ldquo;Sa kasaysayan nila, even before 1949&hellip; ang usapan sa kanilang lenggwahe ay hindi paraan upang matapos ang isang suliranin. Ito ay pamamaraan lamang na humaba itong suliranin para mapagod ka. Kaya kung kaya nila, sabihin nila we can wait thousands of years, tayo din. Kaya natin. At ang kaya natin, dapat umaabante tayo. Maraming tumutulong sa atin. Kaya huwag tayong magpapatinag,&rdquo; he said.</p><div><br></div><div><strong>10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARBITRAL AWARD</strong></div><div><br></div><p>As the Philippines marks the 10th anniversary of the 2016 Arbitral Award on Sunday, July 12, Teodoro said the ruling has become the foundation for stronger international support for the country&rsquo;s position in the West Philippine Sea.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/29/-no-rift-between-ph-china-despite-beijing-s-sanctions-rhetoric-vs-teodoro-palace-1533">&#39;No rift&#39; between PH, China despite Beijing&#39;s sanctions, rhetoric vs Teodoro: Palace</a></div><p>He noted that more Filipinos now support the government&rsquo;s efforts to defend the country&rsquo;s maritime rights.</p><p>He then continued, &ldquo;So, ito, boses lang ng Pilipinas ang dapat marinig dito kasi atin ito. At kung meron tayong pakikinggan na boses galing sa dayuhan, yung mga sumusuporta sa atin dito. Yung mga hindi sumusuporta sa atin dito, hindi na dapat natin pakinggan yan.&rdquo;</p><p>The defense chief also rejected claims by Beijing that the arbitral ruling has become meaningless, saying it continues to serve as the country&rsquo;s legal foundation under international law.</p><p>&ldquo;Ang 10th year Arbitral Award na &lsquo;yan, napakarami nang nangyari. Doon sa sinasabi nilang ibasura, papel, ang daming nangyari sa papel. Bakit? Dito sa papel na ito nakabatay ang batas, ang international law, ang ating mga karapatan at ang kinabukasan ng Pilipinas,&rdquo; Teodoro said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/4/ahead-of-arbitral-ruling-anniversary-afp-urges-wider-observance-of-wps-victory-day-1138">Ahead of arbitral ruling anniversary, AFP urges wider observance of &#39;WPS Victory Day&#39;</a></div><div><br></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lQv5zQgF4Zs?si=fRkUS7TQU8OKNs9C" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Monday dismissed China’s Ambassador to the Philippines Jing Quan’s proposal to establish a common fishing area in Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal, saying the Philippines was “not born yesterday” and describing the move as a public relations stunt. </p>

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Monday dismissed China’s Ambassador to the Philippines Jing Quan’s proposal to establish a common fishing area in Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal, saying the Philippines was “not born yesterday” and describing the move as a public relations stunt.

‘Not born yesterday’: Teodoro calls China’s ‘common fishing area’ proposal in Bajo de Masinloc a PR stunt

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‘Not born yesterday’: Teodoro calls China’s ‘common fishing area’ proposal in Bajo de Masinloc a PR stunt

Bianca Dava,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 06, 2026 03:30 PM PHT

Read More:

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.

Bajo de Masinloc

Scarborough Shoal

West Philippine Sea

common fishing area

China

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