The Department of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday said it is verifying reports on China’s new fishing regulation over South China Sea that requires foreign fishing vessels entering the disputed waters to obtain permission from the Chinese government.
Such policy, which came after China’s imposition of an air defense zone that triggered protests from several countries like the United States, Japan and the Philippines, is likely to increase tensions anew over the resource-rich waters also being claimed wholly or in part by the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Taiwan and China.
“We are verifying the news with our embassies in Beijing and Hanoi,” Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said in a text message.
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