MANILA — The Philippines will defy new Chinese fishing rules in disputed areas of the South China Sea and the navy will escort fishing boats to protect them if necessary, the defense secretary said on Thursday.
China imposed fishing restrictions from the beginning of year, requiring foreign fishing vessels to obtain approval before entering the waters.
Claims by an increasingly powerful China over most of the energy-rich South China Sea have set it directly against U.S. allies Vietnam and the Philippines. Brunei, Taiwan and Malaysia also claim parts of the waters and China has a separate dispute with Japan in the East China Sea.