China to regulate fishing in sea despite protests

MANILA, Philippines — A Philippine official says China has insisted it will regulate fishing in the disputed South China Sea despite protests by neighboring countries.

Chinese rules which took effect this month require foreign fishermen to seek Beijing’s approval to operate in the disputed waters.

Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said Tuesday that the Philippines asked China to clarify the edict and was told by Beijing that it was “an implementation of China’s fisheries law” and that the region is under Chinese jurisdiction.

China claims virtually the entire South China Sea, putting it at odds with Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan, which also claim parts of the busy waters as their territory. Washington has criticized the Chinese regulation as “provocative and potentially dangerous.”

 
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