Foreign Ministry expresses concern over China’s new policy of detaining ‘illegal immigrants’

This photo, taken on February 16, 2024, shows a rigid hull inflatable boat leaving a Chinese coast guard ship and heading into disputed waters in the South China Sea, near the Chinese-controlled Scarborough Shoal. On February 17, the Philippines accused the Chinese coast guard ship of taking “dangerous” actions in an attempt to stop a Philippine ship from dropping supplies on fishermen on coral reefs off the coast of the Southeast Asian country. File photo/AFP

MANILA, Philippines — China’s Foreign Ministry on Sunday expressed “serious concern” over China’s new policy that gives its coast guard broad powers to detain without trial for up to 60 days anyone who illegally enters its so-called “border.”

On May 15 last year, China announced the promulgation of the “Regulations on the Administrative Enforcement Procedures of the Coast Guard Organs”. It is reported that the regulations will come into effect on June 15.

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In response, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs pointed out that every sovereign state has the right to make and promulgate laws and to enforce domestic legislation within its jurisdiction, but these laws “shall not be implemented in the territory, waters or jurisdiction of other countries, nor shall they infringe upon the rights and interests enjoyed by other sovereign states under international law.”

“The regulation was issued on the basis of the 2021 Coast Guard Law, which also illegally expanded the China Coast Guard’s maritime law enforcement powers,” the agency’s statement read.

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The statement further stated: “If China implements these new regulations in the waters and islands within the illegal, invalid and expanded ten-dash line, it will effectively cover the West Philippine Sea areas or the high seas over which the Philippines has sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction, which will be a direct violation of international law.”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also stressed that China’s legislation must reflect and comply with its commitments and obligations under international law, in particular the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the 2016 binding South China Sea Arbitration Award, and the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.

To this end, the agency once again called on China to abide by these laws and “cease any actions that undermine peace and security in the region.”

According to previous reports, China made the aggressive remarks after the Adin-Ito coalition recently completed a civilian-led resupply mission in the West Philippine Sea.

The Ading Yito began its mission on May 14 last year and ended on May 16 after completing its primary objective about 50 nautical miles from Scarborough Shoal (Panatag Island).