‘PH won’t follow Chinese law in Philippine waters’

Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana—REUTERS FILE PHOTO

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the Philippines would not honor Chinese laws requiring vessels to make a full report before being granted passage through the South China Sea. “Our stand on that is we will not honor those laws by the Chinese within the West Philippine Sea,” Lorenzana said at a forum on Wednesday. He said Manila considers such laws as Beijing’s attempt to claim sovereign rights in the disputed waters. China’s Maritime Safety Administration issued a Sept. 1 notice imposing the requirement on submersibles, nuclear ships and all vessels carrying radioactive materials, bulk oil, chemicals, liquefied gas and other toxic materials. —JEANNETTE I. ANDRADE