The Philippines will not stop China from fishing in the country’s territorial waters, Malacañang said on Tuesday amid calls on the government to make Recto (Reed) Bank an exclusive fishing ground for Filipinos. Recto Bank is part of the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo said the government would “tolerate” the practice of the Chinese to fish in Philippine waters, echoing President Rodrigo Duterte’s statement that friendly relations between the Philippines and China make it difficult to stop the latter from fishing in the country’s EEZ.

Valente, C. S. (2019, June 26). Palace: Let China fish in PH waters. The Manila Times, pp. A1, A2.