China has rejected the Philippines’ diplomatic protest over its unilateral fishing ban in the South China Sea that extends into the West Philippine Sea. At a press conference in Beijing on Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said China could not accept the “unwarranted accusation” made by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). “We hope the Philippine side can view it in an objective and correct perspective, and earnestly fulfill the obligations as a littoral state of the South China Sea to jointly promote sustainable development of fishery in the South China Sea,” he said.

Santos, T. G., & Mangosing, F. (2022, June 3). China rejects PH protest against fishing ban. Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. A6.