Teodoro: China’s order to arrest SCS ‘trespassers’ a provocation

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Friday described China’s directive to arrest “trespassers” in the South China Sea as "provocation." 

“It is not trespassing, ‘di ba? They threatened to arrest. That is a provocation and a violation to me of the United Nations charter,” Teodoro told reporters in an ambush interview during the Philippine Navy anniversary celebration at its headquarters in Manila. 

In his speech during the ceremony, Teodoro called China's "threat" as "roguish" and "irresponsible."

"I believe what a provocation is, is the roguish and irresponsible threat to detain quote unquote trespassers in what is claimed as internal waters, but is actually part of the high seas and part of the West Philippine Sea, by a country," he said.

According to Teodoro, China’s directive is a violation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the UN charter.

"Such behavior is not only a violation of UNCLOS but also a violation of the precepts of the United Nations charter which lays upon each responsible member state the duty to refrain from the threat or the use of force or aggression to enforce particularly in this case illegal territorial claims in the maritime domain," he said.

China has reportedly issued a regulation empowering its coast guard to detain foreigners trespassing in the South China Sea. The directive was issued following the Philippine civilian mission to the WPS.

According to a South China Morning Post report last week, citing a regulatory document of Beijing set to take effect in June, the China Coast Guard (CCG) has been empowered to detain trespassers without trial.

"Foreigners suspected of illegally passing China's borders can be held for up to 60 days," according to the report.

China claims almost the entire South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion in annual ship commerce. Its territorial claims overlap with those of the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei.

In 2016, an international arbitration tribunal in The Hague ruled that China's massive claim over the South China Sea has no legal basis, a decision that Beijing does not recognize.  

Meanwhile, Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS) Commodore Roy Trinidad said earlier that China Coast Guard 5901 vessel known as "The Monster" was located 50 nautical miles from Scarborough Shoal as of Friday morning. 

Scarborough Shoal, also called Bajo de Masinloc or Panatag Shoal, is located within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.

US Air Force official and ex-Defence Attaché Ray Powell said in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that "The Monster" conducted a "brief intrusive patrol."

The actions, the response will be at the NTF (National Task Force) WPS level. It is a China Coast Guard ship. There will be appropriate response from the NTF, most likely the Philippine Coast Guard,” said Trinidad. — VAL/VDV, GMA Integrated News