Manalo says detention of foreign nationals trespassing SCS inconsistent with UNCLOS

Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said Tuesday that China's regulation empowering its coast guard to detain any foreign nationals trespassing the South China Sea is inconsistent with the United Nation Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS). 

In a chance interview in Taguig City, Manalo was asked for reaction on China's remarks that the Philippines had a malicious misinterpretation of China’s new regulations in the region. 

''Why would... they announced it, it was quite clear so, I mean, what's malicious to it...'' Manalo said. 

''We have to see what will happen but obviously whatever they said, if that's correct, is inconsistent with UNCLOS,'' he added. 

Manalo, however, did not elaborate. 

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier condemned China’s detainment order, saying that that kind of action “would be completely unacceptable to the Philippines.”

Former Senate president Juan Miguel Zubiri also said China's new regulation ordering the detention of any foreign nationals trespassing the region is illegal under the UNCLOS. 

Zubiri said the UNCLOS provides for free and open access to all ships passing through South China Sea, which includes areas that fall under the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone.

Beijing said in its controversial regulation, which will take effect in June, that the China Coast Guard would detain trespassers in the South China Sea for up to 60 days.—AOL, GMA Integrated News