A SENIOR international maritime official in London has raised fears that China could be trying to take over the whole South China Sea with a new campaign of interceptions of merchant shipping.
International Maritime Bureau director Eric Ellen told the Post last night that governments could no longer hide behind the legal definition of piracy to ignore raising interceptions with China.
''Are these attacks being officially sponsored by the Chinese in a bid . . . to take control of the South China Seas? Or are they work of a bunch of renegades or armed forces, working simply for profit, without the authority of their government?'' Mr Ellen said.
''At the moment it could be either; governments must start doing what they can to find out.
''Whatever the answer is, it has to be said that these actions do not have a legal basis.
''The ships are attacked in international waters, no judicial procedures are being used and where fines have been imposed, there is no justification for them and, more importantly, no authorisation.'' Mr Ellen said he had receipts following the seizure of cigarette carrier Alicia Star - highlighted recently in the Post - which Chinese diplomatic sources told him had no official status.