Coastguards can detain trespassers without trial, says Beijing as activists converge on Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea
- Regulation stipulates that foreigners suspected of illegally crossing China’s borders can be held for up to 60 days
- The regulatory document, which takes effect in June, coincides with the arrival at Scarborough Shoal of a group of civilians and fishermen from the Philippines
While existing laws and regulations give coastguards the power to detain suspects, this is the first time a specific regulation has clarified the coastguard force’s law enforcement procedure for administrative detentions.
Other laws and regulations have been issued for the coastguard to give the force more legal basis since it was transferred from maritime authorities to the paramilitary armed police in 2018.
The release of the latest regulatory document, effective from June 15, coincided with a civilian mission from the Philippines that kicked off on Wednesday to assert Manila’s claims near the contested Scarborough Shoal, also known as Panatag Shoal.
Beijing and Manila both claim the China-controlled shoal – once a common fishing ground for China, the Philippines and Vietnam – and there have been repeated confrontations, sometimes involving clashes between Chinese and Philippine ships.
The regulatory document details rules on the handling of administrative cases and includes a chapter on cases involving foreigners suspected of violating China’s border laws.