Philippine News Agency
China policy of detaining 'trespassers' in SCS violates UNCLOS: Manalo
Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo stated that China's new regulation allowing its coast guard to detain foreigners trespassing in the South China Sea, effective June 15, contradicts the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The regulation, part of the 2021 Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) Law, permits the CCG to detain suspected "trespassers" for up to 60 days without trial.
Manalo clarified that China's announcement of the policy was clear and questioned the accusation of malicious misinterpretation by the Philippines.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had previously denounced the regulation as completely unacceptable to the Philippines.
Former Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri echoed Manalo's sentiment, asserting that China's detention order is illegal under UNCLOS, which guarantees freedom of navigation in international waters, including the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone.
China's expansive nine-dash-line claim overlaps with the exclusive economic zones of several Southeast Asian nations, including the Philippines.
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China's Coast Guard will be empowered to detain foreigners suspected of "illegally crossing" its borders in the South China Sea for up to 60 days without trial, starting June 15.
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President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared China's new order allowing the detention of foreign nationals in the South China Sea as "completely unacceptable" to the Philippines.
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The Philippines, through Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, declared it does not recognize China's new maritime rule allowing its coast guard to detain foreigners in disputed waters.
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The Philippines expressed serious concern over new regulations by the China Coast Guard, asserting they directly violate international law and cannot be enforced in the high seas.
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National Security Council Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya dismissed China's announcement of arresting and detaining trespassers in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) as a mere "scare tactic" and urged Filipinos to continue their activities there.
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