The Philippines on Monday filed a diplomatic protest against China for its unilateral imposition of a three-and-half-month fishing ban in some areas of the South China Sea. The Philippines has “sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction” over the disputed areas of the waterway, its Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said in a diplomatic note dated May 30, citing the country’s 2016 arbitral award by a United Nations (UN)-backed tribunal that invalidated China’s claim to more than 80% of the sea. The fishing ban is expected to last until Aug. 16.

Tan, A. N (2022, June 1). Philippines protests annual Chinese fishing ban. Business World, p. S1/10.