China must leave Panganiban, not our Navy from Ayungin

It’s China that must vacate Panganiban (Mischief) Reef. Not the Philippine Navy from Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal.

Both seamarks are within the 200-nautical mile Philippine exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea. They’re well beyond China’s own 200-nm EEZ.

Panganiban is 189 nm from Palawan mainland; Ayungin, 170 nm. Both are more than 650 nm from China’s nearest Hainan province.

The 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea grants each coastal state up to 200-nm EEZ. Archipelagos like the Philippines also have 150-nm extended continental shelf. Example: Philippine (Benham) Rise, within 200-nm EEZ and 150-nm ECS of East Philippine Sea, Pacific side.

Even if China has a 150-nm ECS in addition to its 200-nm EEZ, Panganiban would still be beyond its legal jurisdiction under UNCLOS.

The Hague verdict of 2016 state those facts. The Permanent Court of Arbitration decided on the basis of UNCLOS.

The PCA reiterated UNCLOS’s provision that only the coastal state has the right to use the resources in its EEZ – fish, reefs, undersea minerals and petroleum.

China illegally occupies Panganiban, the PCA ruled. China also violates Philippine sovereign rights in menacing Filipino fishermen and oil drillers in nearby Recto (Reed) Bank.

The PCA rubbished China’s “nine-dash line” sea boundary as unfounded and contrary to UNCLOS. It chastised China for irreparably damaging the marine ecosystem in transforming Panganiban into an island fortress. Also for paving airstrips on Kagitingan (Fiery Cross) and Zamora (Subi) Reefs farther west.

China began annexing Panganiban in 1992. It built huts as supposed storm shelters of Chinese and Filipino fishermen.

Phooey, fú y?, h?o xiào! Chinese fishers shouldn’t even be in Philippine EEZ. If