A Philippine fisherman watches a China Coast Guard vessel patrolling the disputed Scarborough Shoal. (Reuters)The Philippines on Tuesday said it had filed a diplomatic protest with China for unilaterally declaring a South China Sea fishing ban, and complained also of harassment and violations of its jurisdiction by Beijing's coast guard. In another statement, it denounced China's imposition of a fishing moratorium aimed at regenerating fish stocks, an annual ban that includes waters inside the EEZs of Vietnam and the Philippines. The foreign ministry said the coast guard's actions were "not consistent with innocent passage and are clear violations of the Philippine maritime jurisdiction." That followed a conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping during which he said he would elevate bilateral ties to a new level.

Source: The Standard May 31, 2022 19:49 UTC