Philippine Coast Guard Chases Off Foreign Fishing Boat Near Lawak Island

On Friday, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said it had successfully driven a foreign fishing vessel out of the waters around Lawak Island.

The operation was the sixth time the PCG has pushed away a foreign vessel within the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG).

The PCG tracked the ship about 2 nautical miles northeast of Lawak Island, well inside the 12-nautical-mile territorial sea. Once the vessel was spotted, PCG personnel launched a rubber boat to patrol the area. They repeatedly radioed challenges and warnings, ordering the ship to leave the island's territorial waters.

The vessel eventually turned north and moved away from the island. The PCG team followed it at a safe distance until it was clear. The coast guard reported no untoward incidents during the operation.

Lawak Island falls under the municipality of Kalayaan in Palawan province.

The PCG stressed that under international law, the Philippines has full sovereignty over its territorial sea, and no foreign vessel may fish there without authorization. It added that the fishing violated Philippine law, including the Philippine Fisheries Code and the Philippine Maritime Zones Act.

A Busy Few Weeks in the KIG

The PCG recorded six incidents within the KIG in less than four weeks. On October 18, a Chinese fishing vessel, the YUETAIYU 63168, and four small boats were reported off Lawak Island. Three days later, a foreign fishing vessel was reported off Kota Island. Earlier, on October 11, the PCG said it had repelled five foreign fishing vessels from the territorial waters of Kota Island.

The coast guard also said Chinese Maritime Militia Vessel 9622 and its sampans were chased away after anchoring off Kota Island on September 28 and again on October 9.