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South China Sea
ChinaDiplomacy

South China Sea: why Beijing may not rush to act on new rules for Chinese coastguard

  • ‘Tough balancing act’ for Beijing as guidelines give sweeping powers to Chinese coastal patrols including detention without trial

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China’s coastguard will have sweeping new powers from Saturday, which the Philippines has described as particularly worrisome. Photo: AP
Alyssa Chen
Beijing is preparing to roll out new rules for coastguard operations amid rising tensions in the contested South China Sea.
Taking effect on Saturday, the “administrative law enforcement procedures” give sweeping powers to the Chinese coastguard, including the authority to detain foreign ships suspected of illegally entering China’s territorial waters and detain suspected trespassers without trial for 30 to 60 days.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr of the Philippines, a rival claimant in the South China Sea, has described the rules as particularly worrisome and “an escalation of the situation”, after repeated run-ins between Philippine vessels and the Chinese coastguard over the past year.
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The US Indo-Pacific Command has also raised concerns, saying the latest regulations had the potential to “escalate regional tensions, infringe on coastal state sovereign rights and impede high-seas freedoms”.

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Maritime observers, however, expect Beijing to show some restraint when it comes to implementing the guidelines.

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