Marcos: Nothing new on China fishing ban

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Brunei - President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. said Wednesday there is nothing new as regards China's fishing ban.

In an interview with the Philippine media delegation, Marcos said there were already deals before regarding fishing ban.

''Well, it’s just an extension again of their claim that this is all the maritime territory of China. So, it is just— it is nothing new. There are sometimes—there are fishing bans because they are—because it’s the season. And this is something that we have actually agreed upon before,'' Marcos said. 

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) already protested China's fishing ban as it violated international law and undermined the country's sovereignty and maritime rights.

Manila said it does not recognize China’s May 1 to September 16 fishing moratorium as it included Manila's maritime zones over which the Philippines had sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction.

The Philippine Navy said Wednesday it has not seen any indication that China is implementing its unilateral fishing moratorium over the South China Sea.

At a press briefing, Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad said China’s directive was only for “narrative,” “deception,” and “lawfare” purposes.—AOL, GMA Integrated News