The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has taken initiatives to prevent China’s maritime forces from arresting Filipinos who will access certain areas in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) as a new “trespass” rule by the Asian superpower is set to be implemented this week.
China has empowered its coast guard to arrest foreign nationals who are deemed “trespassers” in areas under its jurisdiction from 30 to 60 days, even without a trial, through the implementation of a new order which is set to take effect on Saturday, June 15.
“We have increased our patrols, we are involving our partners and allies. We are not the only one concerned, even other countries are concerned about that,” said Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad, Philippine Navy spokesperson for West Philippine Sea.
He said the AFP has coordinated with relevant agencies such as the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to ensure that Filipino fishermen can still cast their nets in the West Philippine Sea despite China’s new order, and no Filipino will be detained by China for such regulation.
“Nothing will happen. The actions right now of the Philippine Navy, the Armed Forces, the Coast Guard, BFAR and all other maritime players of the Philippine government are [aimed at] preventing such a situation,” the PN spokesperson noted.
China is claiming almost the entire South China Sea, including portions within the 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Philippines.
Aside from China and the Philippines, several nations have overlapping territorial claims in the disputed waters such as Taiwan, Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam.
“There are actions and messages being sent out for all players in the maritime domain to observe the rules-based international order,” Trinidad stated.
The order was introduced by China after civil-society group “Atin Ito” Coalition, which advocates for the establishment of civilian presence in the West Philippine Sea, conducted a 100-boat convoy in Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough or Panatag Shoal) last month.
The national government earlier criticized China’s new trespass rule, saying that it violates the rights of other claimant-countries in the South China Sea, as well as the international law, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and the United Nations (UN) charter.