14 January 2014, Tuesday

The Chinese side has responded to our request for clarification by saying that the new regulation is an implementation of China's fisheries law and covers the jurisdiction of Hainan province. The Department of Foreign Affairs reiterates its strong protest which we have made on 28 June 2012 since the jurisdiction of Hainan province included the Philippine territories and impinges on the Philippines’ EEZ. The Philippines calls on China to conform to international law particularly UNCLOS.