Philippines president calls new China coast guard rules ‘worrisome’

Reuters:

MANILA, May 29 – Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said on Wednesday new rules outlined by China’s coast guard that could result in the detention of foreigners in the South China Sea were an escalation and “worrisome”.

China, which has maritime sovereignty disputes with the Philippines and other countries, issued new rules effective June 15 that would enforce a 2021 coast guard law and allow detention of foreigners suspected of trespassing.

“The new policy of threatening to detain our own citizens, that is different. That is an escalation of the situation,” Marcos told reporters during a state visit to Brunei.

The Philippines “will use any point of contact with China to stop aggressive actions” and allow Filipino fishermen to fish in the South China Sea, Marcos said.

If aggressive actions are managed, Marcos said, “then we can all go about our business in a peaceful way”.

China routinely accuses vessels of trespassing in areas of the South China Sea that fall inside the exclusive economic zones of its neighbors and has clashed repeatedly with the Philippines in the past year.

The rules aim to standardise law enforcement and better uphold maritime order, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Wednesday.

“There is no need for any individual or entity to worry as long as there is no illegal behaviour,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said in a regular press conference.