MANILA – The Philippines protested the “unilateral imposition” of the fishing ban by China in the South China Sea as it infringes the country’s sovereignty over its territorial waters.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the country does not recognize China’s fishing moratorium as it covers waters in areas where the Philippines exercises sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction.”
“China can not legally impose nor legally enforce such a moratorium in the West Philippines Sea,” according to the DFA.
Moreover, China’s fishing moratorium extends far beyond its legitimate maritime entitlements under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and has no basis under the international law.
“The Philippines strongly urges China to desist from any action and activity that infringes on Philippine sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction, in contravention of international law,” the DFA said.
Previously, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China announced that the fishing moratorium from May 1 to August 16, 2021 covers “waters north of 12 degrees north latitude in the South China Sea,” which included Philippine waters.
The DFA cited paragraph 716 of the Award of the South China Sea Arbitration which states that any Chinese fishing moratorium in the South China Sea that includes the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone is illegal.
It said China “breached Article 56 of the 1982 UNCLOS with respect to the Philippines’ sovereign rights over the living resources of its exclusive economic zone.”
Philippines and China have traded diplomatic barbs since March after Philippine authorities spotted around 200 Chinese maritime militia vessels in areas within its exclusive economic zone./PN
