00:00Today, the Chinese have started to arrest the non-Chinese
00:04for entering their so-called territory in the West Philippine Sea.
00:08At the same time, the Philippines asked the United Nations
00:11to expand our continental shelf in the West Philippine Sea.
00:15Jonathan Andal was there.
00:20Until now, the continental shelf of the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea
00:25is 200 nautical miles from the coastline.
00:28But now, the government wants to expand it.
00:31That's why yesterday, the Philippines registered
00:34to the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf or UNCLCS
00:39its request for entitlement to the extended continental shelf in the West Philippine Sea.
00:45The DFA or Department of Foreign Affairs did not say
00:48how far the extension that the Philippines wants.
00:51But according to Article 76 of the UNCLOS
00:54or United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,
00:57coastal countries like the Philippines should be allowed to expand their continental shelf
01:01beyond 200 nautical miles,
01:04but not more than 350 nautical miles from the baseline or coastline.
01:09The DFA said that this extension is important for the government
01:12to ensure the sovereignty and maritime jurisdiction of the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea.
01:17Moreover, the country is holding the 2016 Arbitration Award
01:21that confirms the Philippines' right to the disputed part of the sea.
01:26According to the government, this was done to ensure the future of the country.
01:29According to the DFA, half of it was not prepared.
01:33In 2009, the government said that it intends to expand its territory in the West Philippine Sea.
01:39Today, it is expected that China will start pursuing non-Chinese
01:44who want to enter their so-called territory in the West Philippine Sea.
01:48But fishermen in Zambales, even in Cabado, are still spreading their nets.
01:52It's a sanction that is being followed by everyone because they are waiting for it.
01:57They are trying to avoid it.
02:00We are calling for a portable radio so that we can pass on the information safely.
02:06The President told us that no one should be affected.
02:13The Philippine Coast Guard, along with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Bureau of Fisheries,
02:19we are all working together to protect all fishermen.
02:24For GMA Integrated News, Jonathan Andal, for 24 Hours.
02:49For GMA Integrated News, Jonathan Andal, for 24 Hours.
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