The mayor of Kalayaan town, in the Spratlys, on Friday said he would encourage Filipino fishermen to ignore China’s new rules that require foreign fishermen to seek permission from Chinese regional authorities before venturing out into the disputed West Philippine Sea. “It’s an absurd policy. We are not following it, and neither are we discouraging Filipino fishermen from going there,” Kalayaan Mayor Eugenio Bito-onon said as the Philippine government denounced the new Chinese fishing policy, calling it a “violation of international law.” Congress may respond to the fresh Chinese move to tighten its grip on the West Philippine Sea, with Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez saying on Friday that he would file a resolution next Monday to oppose the new Chinese policy.

Anda, R., Quismundo, T., & Cabacungan, G. (2014, January 11). Kalayaan mayor urges PH fishers to defy China. Philippine Daily Inquirer, pp. A1, A9.