China trespasser policy worries US

The United States has expressed concern over China’s new regulation allowing its coast guard to detain “trespassers” in the South China Sea, including in areas within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, Armed Forces chief Romeo Brawner said yesterday.

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Brawner said the China Coast Guard’s new regulation was brought up during bilateral meetings with his counterparts on the sidelines of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) - Shangri-La Dialogue here.

He said his meeting with an unnamed US official “went well” and both countries renewed commitment to the US-Philippines alliance.

Asked by journalists whether they discussed the new China Coast Guard policy, Brawner said, “Yes, we did, but again I cannot divulge (details),” adding that “both our countries were concerned about it.”