Manila Philippines — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has expressed concern regarding the new regulation that Beijing has imposed to Chinese Coast Guard.
According to DFA, Beijing’s “Regulations on Administrative Law Enforcement Procedures for Coast Guard Agencies” cannot be implemented in the territory, maritime zones or jurisdiction of another country, which instructs the CCG to arrest Filipino fishermen in the territory claimed by China.
“…a state’s domestic laws may not be applied and enforced in the territory, maritime zones or jurisdiction of other states, nor violate other sovereign states’ rights and entitlements under international law. These same domestic laws cannot be applied nor enforced in the high seas under international law,” according to the DFA statement.
It is said that China is also violating international law with its illegal, void and expanded 10-dash line that claims mostly of the West Philippine Sea.
“China would be in direct violation of international law should it enforce these new regulations in the waters and maritime features within the illegal, null and void, and expansive 10-dash line, which would effectively cover areas of the West Philippine Sea where the Philippines has sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction, or in the high seas,” added the DFA.
The DFA also reminded China to comply with international law and their obligations under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), 2016 Arbitral Binding, and the 2022 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC).
“We reiterate our call for China to comply with international law and desist from any action that would undermine peace and security in the region,” said the DFA.
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This new regulation was approved on May 15, 2024 and its implementation will be effective on June 15, 2024.
P1NAS or Pilipinong Nagkakaisa para sa Soberanya also expressed condemnation of the new Chinese regulation.
“China is brazenly asserting its unlawful claim over the entire South China Sea through these outrageous regulations,” said P1NAS spokesperson Antonio Tinio.
The Department of National Defense (DND) has already condemned the CCGs being instructed to arrest fishermen who are allegedly encroaching on the territory that China continues to claim.