Chinese coast guard rules went into force Saturday, allowing it to hold foreigners for trespassing in the disputed South China Sea, where neighbors and the G7 have accused Beijing of intimidation and coercion.
Beijing claims practically the entire South China Sea, ignoring competing claims from several Southeast Asian countries, notably the Philippines, and an international ruling that its stance lacks legal basis.
China uses coast guard and other boats to patrol the waters and has turned numerous reefs into militarised artificial islands. Chinese and Philippine warships have had a series of confrontations in contested areas.
According to the new regulations, China’s coast guard can detain foreigners suspected of violating management of border entry and exit beginning Saturday.
“Detention is allowed up to 60 days in complicated cases”, regulations claim.
“Foreign ships that have illegally entered China’s territorial waters and the adjacent waters may be detained”, the regulations read.
The G7 on Friday criticized China’s dangerous incursions in the waterway.
In a statement at the end of a summit, G7 said, “We oppose China’s militarisation, and coercive and intimidation activities in the South China Sea”.
The South China Sea is a vital waterway, where Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei all have overlapping claims in some areas.
Recent clashes between China and the Philippines, however, have increased concerns about a larger maritime conflict involving the United States and other allies.
Trillions of dollars in ship-borne trade travel through the South China Sea each year, and massive unexploited oil and gas deposits are thought to exist beneath the seabed, though estimates vary widely.
The sea also serves as a source of fish for growing populations.
The US Navy and others conduct similar excursions to assert the freedom of navigation in international waters, but Beijing regards them as infringements of its sovereignty.
Chinese and US military have had several close encounters in the South China Sea.
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