PH calls on other countries to ignore China's threat vs SCS 'trespassers'

The Philippines on Monday urged other countries to ignore the threat of China to arrest foreigners who will enter the South China Sea (SCS).

“We call on all maritime states particularly our neighbors like Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia to ignore these illegal regulations and sail in these waters to the extent that international law allows,” National Task Force West Philippine Sea (NTF WPS) spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said in a press conference.

Malaya pointed out that China has no right to arrest foreigners because it has no sovereignty over the high seas without trial.

“These regulations cannot apply to the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of coastal states like Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, or the Philippines or any other countries for that matter,” he said.

“The 2016 arbitral ruling has nullified China’s claim to the entirety of the South China Sea. Therefore, the Chinese Coast Guard has no authority to conduct encroachment regulations in the EEZs of its neighbors,” he added.

According to Malaya, China’s new regulation is provocative, escalatory, and increases tensions in the South China Sea. 

He added that China just wants to scare its Asian neighbors and stop them from fishing in the area.

China has issued a regulation empowering its coast guard to detain foreigners trespassing in the South China Sea following the Philippine civilian mission to the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

The China Coast Guard (CCG) can detain trespassers without trial, the South China Morning Post reported on Thursday, citing a regulatory document of Beijing set to take effect in June.

"Foreigners suspected of illegally passing China's borders can be held for up to 60 days," according to the media report.—AOL, GMA Integrated News