This photo taken on September 2, 2023 shows Philippine fishermen working near the Chinese-controlled Scarborough Shoal in disputed waters of the South China Sea. Ted Aljibe, AFP/File

MANILA (UPDATE) — China has approved new regulation allowing its coast guard to detain trespassers in what it considers its territorial water without trial, according to an article published by the South China Morning Post on May 16, Thursday.

• Philippine boat convoy won't proceed to China-held reef: organizers

“Beijing has fleshed out the Chinese coastguard’s powers to detain foreigners suspected of illegally crossing borders, rolling out regulations on Wednesday that stipulate suspects can be held for up to 60 days without trial, amid rising tensions in the South China Sea," the article said.

The article added that this was “the first time a specific regulation has clarified the coast guard force’s law enforcement procedure for administrative detentions.”

The announcement of the new regulation, which is set to take effect in June, “coincides with the arrival at Scarborough Shoal of a group of civilians and fishermen from the Philippines," the news article noted.

• 'Mission accomplished' for civilian mission to West PH Sea

On Wednesday, a civilian-led convoy set sail to distribute fuel and food to fishers and assert Philippine rights in the disputed South China Sea.

The trip comes two weeks after China Coast Guard vessels used water cannon against two Philippine government boats near Scarborough Shoal. China snatched control of Scarborough Shoal from the Philippines in 2012.

‘ILLEGAL’ INTIMIDATION TACTIC

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Friday blasted the new policy, calling it an intimidation tactic.

“This rule only sought to discourage Filipinos from doing legitimate activities in the West Philippine Sea," said Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG’s spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea. “Isa na namang pananakot ito ng Chinese government, to discourage these kinds of activities"

"Definitely these are things na masasabi nating illegal na aksyon ng China. The mere fact that they claim all sovereignty over our own exclusive economic zone at ang jina-justify lang naman nila ay yung imaginary nine-dash line nila. Definitely it is not only the Philippines that will be affected by this kind of domestic law na ginawa nila,” he added.

The official warned China of its new policy's possible negative impact on the international community.

“I don’t think China is really serious in doing this because mas malaki ang magiging backlash nito sa kanila bilang isang bansa and most likely more countries would really criticize and stand up against this kind of illegal domestic law that they passed without considering the implication on international law,” Tarriela said.

“For me, I am certain that the Chinese Coast Guard has just passed this kind of domestic law to intimidate civil society, private practitioners or even ordinary fishermen na maglayag,” he said.

Tarriela said they were keen on protecting Filipino fishermen. This new rule will also not deter the PCG in protecting Filipino interests.

“We will still strategically deploy our Coast Guard vessels to ensure the safety and security of Filipino fishermen. Ang Coast Guard ay mananatiling nagpapatrolya dito. Sisiguraduhin na ang mga mangingisdang Pilipino natin ay malayang makakapangisda sa exclusive economic zone natin,” he said.

China claims almost the entire South China Sea, brushing off rival claims by the Philippines and other countries, and ignoring an international ruling that its assertion has no legal basis.

To press its claims, Beijing deploys coast guard and other boats to patrol the waterway and has turned several reefs into artificial islands that it has militarized.

— With a report from Agence France-Presse 

RELATED VIDEO: