New China coast guard policy, an escalation of WPS situation—Marcos
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Brunei—President Marcos calls the new China coast guard rule that authorizes the detention of foreigners illegally entering into its waters as worrisome as it is "an escalation of the situation" in the West Philippine Sea.

Marcos made the statement while he was talking about the imposition of a fishing ban by China in the South China Sea, including parts of the West Philippine Sea.
While he called the four-month fishing ban as a seasonal procedure, the new Coast Guard regulation is different as it threatens to escalate the situation in the Philippine waters.
"It’s just an extension again of their claim that this is all the maritime territory of China. So, it is just --- it is nothing new. There are sometimes --- there are fishing bans because they are --- because it’s the season. And this is something that we have actually agreed upon before," he said during the post-Brunei trip presser here on Wednesday, May 29, referring to the fishing ban.
"But the new policy of threatening to detain our own citizens, that is different. That is an escalation of the situation. So, yes, it is now very worrisome," he also said on the China's coast guard new regulation.
Marcos was referring to the "Regulations on Administrative Law Enforcement Procedures for Coast Guard Agencies" that was approved and announced on May 15, and is supposed to take effect on
June 15.
On May 18, the President called it unacceptable as he vowed to protect Filipinos amid China’s recent policy to detain those who will trespass into the South China Sea.
On May 26, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) stated that the Philippines is seriously concerned over the new China coast guard regulations, saying it is a "direct violation of international law" as it cannot be enforced in the high seas.
It also reiterated its call for China to "desist from any action that would undermine peace and security in the region."