AS China's "no trespassing" regulation took effect on Saturday in most parts of the South China Sea (SCS), including those within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ), the country's coast guard immediately deployed two of its ships in a show of determination to protect its fishermen.

The Philippines' move comes as G7 leaders called out China for its "increasing use" of dangerous maneuvers and water cannons against Filipino vessels, reiterating its opposition to Chinese "intimidation activities" in the South China Sea.

In a communiqué following the G7 Summit in Apulia, Italy, the leaders of the powerful economic grouping raised concerns about the situation in the East and South China Seas, reiterating their "strong opposition to any unilateral attempt to change the status quo by force or coercion."

Hours before the implementation of the new detention policy, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel BRP Malapascua arrived 45 kilometers east-southeast of Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal), according to retired United States Air Force Col. Ray Powell, director of SeaLight, a maritime transparency project that monitors and reports activities in the SCS.

The presence of the Malapascua signaled Manila's determination to protect its people fishing in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), a part of SCS recognized by an arbitral ruling in 2016 as within the country's EEZ.

Upon its arrival, Powell said the Malapascua was met by at least two China Coast Guard (CCG) ships.

He said the Malapascua was followed by its sister ship, the BRP Sindangan, which arrived east of Scarborough Shoal.

Meanwhile, another CCG vessel, 3106, whose transceiver had been disabled and was not detectable by satellite automatic identification system (AIS) receivers for almost 24 hours, was also seen in the vicinity of the Malapascua.

As of press time, there were still no reports of Filipino fishermen being apprehended and detained due to China's new regulation.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) assured all fishermen in the WPS that they could continue fishing in the areas covered by the country's EEZ.

The AFP said China's anti-trespassing policy "undermines the rule of law and international norms that govern maritime conduct."

It said the presence and actions of Chinese vessels in Philippine waters were "illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive."

"We will not be deterred or intimidated," the AFP said, vowing to continue its maritime patrols in areas within the Philippines' jurisdiction.

PCG Commandant Adm. Ronnie Gil Gavan on Saturday also stood firm on the Philippines' position that China's anti-trespassing policy in the South China Sea has "no basis" and that "our fishermen should not be afraid."

Members of various sectors of the youth, women and urban poor under the Alyansa Bantay Kapayapaan at Demokrasya (ABKD) condemned China's "illegal implementation" of its regulation.

China's new regulation was issued in May and empowered its coast guard to detain foreigners trespassing in the South China Sea without trial.

Gavan said the PCG had relayed instructions to its personnel on measures to take and to coordinate with fishing groups in their areas should China proceed with arresting Filipino fishermen.

More Chinese ships

Meanwhile, the number of Chinese ships deployed in the South China Sea increased substantially on the first day China's anti-trespassing policy took effect.

Powell said six more Chinese maritime militia (CMM) ships were deployed from Panganiban (Mischief) Reef to Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal while one Chinese vessel pushed further east of the atoll.

He said CCG ships were likely also present in the area but have gone AIS-"dark."

The day before, 15 CMM ships were sighted off the atoll.

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, just one day before the CCG's new detention rule was enforced.

A total of 19 CMM ships were monitored on Pag-asa Island (Thitu Reefs).

G7 concern

In its statement, the G7 said it continued "opposing China's dangerous use of coast guard and maritime militia in the South China Sea and its repeated obstruction of countries' high seas freedom of navigation."

"We express serious concern about the increasing use of dangerous maneuvers and water cannons against Philippine vessels," it said.

The G7 leaders then reaffirmed that they did not recognize China's maritime claims beyond the zones specified by Unclos by citing the 2016 Arbitral Ruling.

"In this regard, we reaffirm that there is no legal basis for China's expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea, and we oppose China's militarization and coercive and intimidation activities in the South China Sea," they added.

"We re-emphasize the universal and unified character of the Unclos and reaffirm Unclos' important role in setting out the legal framework that governs all activities in the oceans and the seas."

They noted that the 2016 Arbitral Award was "legally binding upon the parties to those proceedings" and could serve as a "useful basis for peacefully resolving" maritime disputes.

The G7 represents the world's leading industrialized democracies — Canada, France, the United States, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom.

In August 2023, the CCG first used its water cannon to disrupt the passage of Filipino vessels resupplying the detachment manning the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.

Despite the Chinese presence near Ayungin, the Philippine government recently concluded a successful resupply mission to the grounded ship.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Branwer Jr. said late Friday afternoon that the latest resupply effort was "very successful" but did not provide the date and other specific details of the mission.

"It's enough to say we will continue bringing supplies to our troops, we will continue rotating our troops in all the features that we are occupying in the West Philippine Sea, and we will continue to protect our territory and our sovereign rights," Brawner said.

He said there were no Chinese attempts to seize the supplies like what happened in the May 19 airdrop mission, where Chinese coast guard personnel managed to snatch one airdrop pack only to throw its contents in the water.

Beijing claim

Beijing claims almost the entirety of the South China Sea, brushing aside competing claims from several Southeast Asian nations, including the Philippines and the arbitral ruling.

China deploys coast guard and other boats to patrol the waters and has turned several reefs into militarized artificial islands. Chinese and Philippine vessels have had a series of confrontations in disputed areas.

From Saturday, China's coast guard can detain foreigners "suspected of violating management of border entry and exit," according to the new regulations published online.

Detention is allowed up to 60 days in "complicated cases," it said.

"Foreign ships that have illegally entered China's territorial waters and the adjacent waters may be detained."

Manila has accused the Chinese coast guard of "barbaric and inhumane behavior" against Philippine vessels, and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said last month called the new rules a "very worrisome" escalation.

The South China Sea is a vital waterway, where Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei also have overlapping claims in some parts.

Trillions of dollars in ship-borne trade passes through the South China Sea annually, and huge unexploited oil and gas deposits are believed to lie under its seabed, though estimates vary greatly.

China has defended its new coast guard rules. A foreign ministry spokesman said last month that they were intended to "better uphold order at sea."

And the Chinese defense minister warned this month that there were "limits" to Beijing's restraint in the South China Sea.

China has also been angered in the past by US and other Western warships sailing through the South China Sea.

The US Navy and others undertake such voyages to assert the freedom of navigation in international waters, but Beijing considers them violations of its sovereignty.

Chinese and US forces have had a series of close encounters in the South China Sea.