Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 2) – China has dismissed as “unwarranted” the Philippine government’s protest against its unilateral imposition of a fishing ban over areas that extend to the West Philippine Sea.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian on Wednesday said Beijing’s declaration of the ban, which took effect on May 1 and is expected to last until Aug. 16, is a standard measure to safeguard its resources.
“The summer fishing moratorium in the South China Sea adopted by China is a normal measure of protecting marine biological resources in waters under China’s jurisdiction, and a manifestation of fulfilling obligations under international law including UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) by the Chinese side,” Lijian said in a press conference.
He added that China cannot accept the “unwarranted accusation” of the Philippine government.
Instead, the Philipines should view the ban in an “objective and correct perspective,” he said.
On May 30, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) filed another diplomatic protest over the matter.
The DFA said China’s fishing ban extends to areas “far beyond” its legitimate maritime entitlements under the 1982 UNCLOS and has no basis in law.
It also reaffirmed the 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated Beijing’s sweeping claims to the waters – a landmark decision which the Asian giant continues to ignore.
