The US Coast Guard has rejected comments by a Chinese diplomat that its recent boardings of Chinese fishing boats in the Pacific Islands alongside local police are illegal, saying the joint patrols are at the behest of Pacific nations to protect coastal fisheries. Reuters reported last month that six Chinese fishing boats were found to be violating Vanuatu's fisheries law after being inspected by local police who were on board the first US Coast Guard boat to patrol the waters of the Pacific Islands nation.

US Coast Guard: Broadcastings of Chinese fishing vessels in South Pacific legal. (2024, April 11). Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. A2.