China deploys 6 more ships to Ayungin Shoal as 'no-trespassing' regulation is enforced

WATCHED A China Coast Guard ship monitors Philippine fishermen aboard their wooden boats during the distribution of fuel and food to fishers by the civilian-led mission Atin Ito (This Is Ours) Coalition in the disputed South China Sea on May 16, 2024. A Philippine boat convoy bearing supplies for Filipino fishers said they were headed back to port May 16, ditching plans to sail to a Beijing-held reef off the Southeast Asian country after one of their boats was ‘constantly shadowed’ by a Chinese vessel. Photo by Ted ALJIBE/AFP

MANILA, Philippines — China deployed on Saturday six more maritime militia ships from Panganiban (Mischief) Reef to Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal as it enforces its new regulation to detain foreigners it suspects of trespassing its borders, including disputed areas in the South China Sea.

According to retired United States Air Force Col. Ray Powell, director of SeaLight, a maritime transparency project that monitors and reports activities in the South China Sea, one Chinese ship pushed further east of the atoll early Saturday morning.

Powell said that China Coast Guard ships were likely in the area but

have disabled their transceivers and were not detectable by satellite automatic identification system (AIS) receivers.

China's Type 075 LHD, on the other hand, was spotted near Zamora (Subi) Reef on June 14, marking its first deployment to the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, just one day before the CCG's new detention rule took effect.

Under Article 257 of China's Procedural Regulations on Administrative Law Enforcement of Coast Guard Agencies, the CCG is allowed to detain individuals "endangering national security and interests, disrupting social and public order, or those engaging in illegal and criminal activities," according to a translation of the provision through an open-source translation tool.

According to the new regulations, the CCG can detain up to 30 days foreigners violating China's exit-entry rules, but this can be extended to 60 days for more complex cases, with approval from the police.

The regulations state the time of detention shall be calculated from the date the trespasser's nationality and identity are ascertained.