The Philippines protested China’s imposition of a unilateral, four-month fishing ban in the South China Sea, as announced by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in a press release on Monday. This annual ban, which has been in place since 1999, is set to last until September 16 this year. The DFA’s statement urges China to “cease and desist from the conduct of illegal actions that violate the Philippines’ sovereignty.”
The DFA argues that China is in breach of paragraph 716 of the final and binding 2016 Arbitral Award, which found that China’s fishing ban violated Article 56 of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Article 56 gives coastal states within their exclusive economic zones “sovereign rights for the purpose of exploring and exploiting, conserving and managing natural resources.” However, China has rejected this 2016 ruling, citing a historical precedent for its claim to over 90 percent of the South China Sea.
The DFA further highlighted that the ban “raises tensions” between the Philippines and China. Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro described China’s actions as a “provocation,” especially following China’s recent announcement that it will detain foreigners intruding into claimed areas. Additionally, China has reportedly engaged in aggressive actions towards the Philippine Coast Guard and supply boats, employing water cannons, military-grade lasers, and dangerous blockades, as reported by GMA Network.
China’s justification for the South China Sea fishing ban is tied to efforts to conserve and revive fishing stocks. An estimated 50 percent of fish stocks in the region have either collapsed or been over-exploited, necessitating fishing further afield. The Paracels and Spratly Islands within the South China Sea are also believed to hold substantial oil and natural gas reserves, though exploration has been limited thus far, as noted by Asia House.
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