MANILA – China’s new policy of detaining “trespassers” in the waters that it claims is a direct violation of international law, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.
In a statement, the DFA said the Philippines is seriously concerned, stating that China cannot enforce its own laws within a sovereign state’s territory.
“Every sovereign state has the right to formulate and enact laws, including the enforcement of domestic legislation within its jurisdiction,” the DFA said.
“A state’s domestic laws may not be applied and enforced in the territory, maritime zones or jurisdiction of other states, nor violate other sovereign states’ rights and entitlements under international law,” it added.
The DFA pointed out that China’s new regulations are issued based on the 2021 Coast Guard law which also “illegally expanded the maritime law enforcement powers of China’s Coast Guard.”
“China would be in direct violation of international law should it enforce these new regulations in the waters and maritime features within the illegal, null and void, and expansive 10-dash line, which would effectively cover areas of the West Philippine Sea where the Philippines has sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction, or in the high seas,” the DFA said.
The DFA also raised concerns over China’s “Regulations on Administrative Law Enforcement Procedures for Coast Guard Agencies,” which was approved and announced on May 15 and is supposed to take effect on June 15.
The policy reportedly allows the China Coast Guard to detain for up to 60 days without trial perceived foreign trespassers who will cross what it claims are its borders.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. recently said China’s new policy is “completely unacceptable”, saying that the Philippines would take “whatever measures” to protect Filipinos amid escalating tensions in the contested waters./PN
