China defends South China Sea fishing rule
The rule - which comes as tensions have escalated over overlapping claims with the Philippines, Vietnam and other nations - was called “provocative” by the US
Beijing on Friday rejected US criticism of a measure requiring foreign fishing vessels to secure permission to enter much of the South China Sea, which it claims almost in its entirety.
The rule - which comes as tensions have escalated over overlapping claims with the Philippines, Vietnam and other nations - was called “provocative” by the US.
But it is largely identical to an existing measure from 2004, and reports said similar rules had also been declared in 1998 and 1993.
As well as the South China Sea dispute, Beijing is embroiled in a bitter row with Japan over small uninhabited islands in the East China Sea.
Beijing insisted the latest move was aimed at protecting fishing resources.
“We express dissatisfaction and opposition” to the US reaction, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a regular press briefing.
“If someone insists on calling technical revisions to a local fishing regulation that has already been implemented for years a matter of regional tension, a threat to regional stability, then all I can say is, this is either a lack of basic common sense or some ulterior motive.”