South China Sea: Philippines complains of Chinese fishing ban and ‘harassment’ at sea

Name: Philippine fishermen claim continued Chinese harassment on South China Sea
Uploaded: 2022-05-31T10:08:51.000Z
Duration: 2 min 16 s
Description: Philippine fishermen claim continued Chinese harassment on South China Sea

Accuses Chinese vessels of disrupting a marine scientific research mission and energy exploration activities in Philippines’ exclusive economic zone

Denounces China’s imposition of a fishing moratorium aimed at regenerating fish stocks – annual ban includes waters inside EEZs of The Philippines and Vietnam

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Fishing boats anchored in The Philippines, which is claiming ‘harassment’ by China. Photo: Bloomberg

Reuters

Published: 6:08pm, 31 May 2022Updated: 6:34pm, 31 May 2022

The Philippines on Tuesday said it had filed a diplomatic protest with China for unilaterally declaring a South China Sea fishing ban, and complained also of harassment and violations of its jurisdiction by Beijing’s coastguard.

The foreign ministry in a statement accused the Chinese vessels of disrupting a joint marine scientific research mission as well as energy exploration activities at two sites in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

In another statement, it denounced China’s imposition of a fishing moratorium aimed at regenerating fish stocks, an annual ban that includes waters inside the EEZs of Vietnam and the Philippines.

China’s embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the Philippine statements, which referred to developments in March and April.

The foreign ministry said the coastguard’s actions were “not consistent with innocent passage and are clear violations of the Philippine maritime jurisdiction”.

It did not say why it waited more than a month to comment on the incidents.

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Philippine fishermen claim continued Chinese harassment on South China Sea

The protest shows the challenges ahead for President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jnr, who will have a delicate balancing act in pursuing stronger economic ties with China while not appearing to capitulate over what the military sees as Beijing’s unlawful provocations at sea.