The Inquirer highlights the key message of the report…
By failing to extend assistance, the Chinese vessel failed to comply with the regulations of the United Nation Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), which obliges masters of ships to provide assistance to the distressed persons at sea, the report stated.
Now that there is an authoritative account of what happened, there is now a clear basis to take action.
I spell out what that action should be in my Get Real Post article Here are the steps that need to be taken to resolve the 2019 Reed Bank Incident involving Yuemaobinyu 42212 and F/B Gem-Vir 1. In the first step of my proposed action plan, I assert…
(1) Mount a criminal investigation and court procedure that leads to a proper ruling issued by a Philippine Court.
The case therefore needs to be put through the Philippines’ criminal-justice system after which, “If prosecution is successful, file a request to extradite the captain and crew of Yuemaobinyu 42212 from China.”
The important thing is a pathway forward is defined and taken. No aimless shrill activism will replace a modern effort of thinking things through and executing the plan decisively.
Webmaster of Get Real Philippines