BEIJING”•Beijing on Tuesday announced penalties for “illegal” fishing in its waters, including those it claims in the South China Sea weeks after an international tribunal ruled that those claims have no legal basis.
The Supreme Court defined penalties for boats operating in areas, including the disputed region and its contiguous economic zones, in a move that could raise regional tensions.
The decision appears to be an attempt to strengthen Chinese rules governing the waters, with a focus on sanctions for illegal fishing.
The question of who has the rights to fish in the disputed South China Sea has been a major point of contention between Beijing and Manila, which brought the case to the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague.
The new regulations outline penalties for both Chinese and “foreign” fishermen operating “illegally” in Chinese waters, including the country’s “exclusive economic zone,” a 200-nautical mile region surrounding a country’s territory.
The UN-backed tribunal denied China’s claims to an EEZ in the Spratly Islands, where the Chinese coast guard regularly expels fishing vessels from the Philippines.
Beijing refused to accept the ruling, saying the court had no jurisdiction.
China also has maritime disputes with a number of other countries, including Japan and Vietnam.
Those that “illegally enter” Chinese waters more than once in a year or refuse to leave the waters will be subject to fines and up to a year in jail, a post on the court’s website said.
It also established penalties for harvesting coral and giant clams, as well as other endangered species.
Any foreigners who believe that Beijing has violated their rights are welcome to take their claims to Chinese courts, the ruling said.
In Manila, Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said fishing rights will be a “priority issue” in bilateral talks with China following that country’s warning against people “illegally fishing in Chinese waters.”
“This is definitely a priority issue that we will have to resolve in our talks with China,” Jose said in a phone interview.
Jose was referring to former President Fidel Ramos’ first mission to China after he accepted President Rodrigo Duterte’s offer that he be the Philippines’ special envoy to Beijing.
He stressed that the International Court made it clear in its ruling that the Bajo de Masinloc is a common fishing ground.
“It is important that our fishermen are able to return to Bajo de Masinloc because it’s about their livelihood,” Jose said.
Ramos is set to have his official mission to China soon, but Jose said they had no information yet about it.
Ramos’ mission to China was on top of the agenda during the Cabinet meeting on Monday.