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China has requested the detention of foreign individuals in the contested South China Sea

China has implemented new maritime rules allowing its coastguard to detain foreigners suspected of trespassing in the disputed South China Sea, sparking international concern and controversy over their legality.

China asserts expansive territorial claims over almost the entire South China Sea, conflicting with claims by several Southeast Asian nations and a 2016 ruling by an arbitration tribunal in The Hague that dismissed China’s claims as lacking legal basis. Over recent years, China has bolstered its presence in the region, deploying coastguard vessels and converting reefs into militarized islands, which has escalated tensions and led to confrontations with neighboring countries like the Philippines.

Effective from Saturday, the new regulations authorize China’s coastguard to detain foreigners involved in “violations of management of border entry and exit,” with detention periods extending up to 60 days in complex cases. The rules specify that foreign ships illegally entering Chinese territorial waters or adjacent waters may be detained.

The Philippines, which has strongly opposed China’s maritime actions, has condemned the rules as a worrisome escalation. It has filed legal documents with the United Nations claiming its own maritime entitlements in the South China Sea under international law, asserting its rights in what it terms the West Philippine Sea.

Philippine officials have accused Chinese coastguard vessels of aggressive behavior, including using water cannons against Filipino boats and causing collisions that injured Filipino personnel.

Meanwhile, international criticism has mounted, with the Group of Seven (G7) nations condemning what they described as dangerous actions by China in the strategic waterway, critical for global trade and believed to hold substantial oil, gas, and fishing resources.

China defends its rules as necessary for maintaining maritime order, citing its sovereignty and security concerns in the South China Sea. Chinese authorities emphasize that these measures are aimed at regulating activities in its claimed waters, despite ongoing tensions and occasional incidents involving U.S. and other Western military ships challenging Beijing’s maritime claims in the region.

The South China Sea remains a focal point of geopolitical tensions, with significant implications for international maritime law, regional stability, and global economic interests.

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