Philippines says China insists it will regulate fishing in disputed sea despite protests

MANILA, Philippines—China has insisted it will regulate fishing in the disputed South China Sea under its laws despite protests by neighbouring countries, a Philippine official said Tuesday.

Chinese rules which took effect this month require foreign fishermen to seek Beijing’s approval to operate in the disputed waters.

Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said the Philippines asked China to clarify the edict and was told by Beijing that it was “an implementation of China’s fisheries law” and that the region was under Chinese jurisdiction.

China claims virtually the entire South China Sea, putting it at odds with Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan, which also claim parts of the busy waters as their territory.

Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokesman Luong Thanh Nghi has said the fishing regulation and other moves by China in recent months are “illegal and invalid” and seriously violate Vietnamese sovereignty.

The United States has criticized the Chinese regulation as “provocative and potentially dangerous.” China has asked Washington to stay out of the Asian dispute.

The Philippines and Vietnam are among the most vocal critics of China’s claims over the disputed waters, saying they infringe on their own 200-mile (322-kilometre) exclusive economic zones.

China and rival claimants have beefed up their navies and stepped up patrols in the disputed territories, increasing the risk of confrontation.