Manila: The Philippine military chief has called on Filipino fishermen to continue fishing in the country’s exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea, despite China’s upcoming enforcement of new coastguard rules allowing detainment of trespassers without trial starting June 15.
China’s expansive territorial claims in the South China Sea, which overlap with claims from the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam, have led to tensions exacerbated by the new rules. These regulations stem from a 2021 law granting China’s coastguard authority to use lethal force against foreign vessels in disputed waters.
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Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief Romeo Brawner affirmed in a statement to reporters on Friday, “That’s our message to our fishermen, for them not to be afraid but to just go ahead with their normal activities in our exclusive economic zone.” He emphasized, “We have the right to exploit the resources in the area so our fishermen have no reason to be afraid.”
The new rules, permitting China’s coastguard to detain suspected trespassers without trial for up to 60 days, have sparked international alarm. The Philippines condemned them as “worrisome” and a “provocation”.
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Meanwhile, Taiwan’s coastguard vowed to bolster fishing protection measures to safeguard fishermen’s operations and uphold national sovereignty. It urged China to refrain from unilateral actions undermining regional stability.
China’s foreign ministry defended the rules as necessary to uphold maritime order, asserting no cause for concern unless illegal actions are committed.
