Philippine fishing boats are anchored near a foreign cargo vessel facing South China sea at the Port of Santa Cruz, Zambales province in this file photo taken May 10, 2012. Malacanang has recently said Pilipino fishermen need to ask permission from Chinese regional authorities to fish in the high seas and most especially within the Philippines Exclusive Economic Zone. The Philippines and China are among the claimants to parts of the disputed territory along with Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan. The Malacanang palace official said the Dept. of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is correct in insisting that the matter "should be clarified properly." Vietnam had added it's voice in the mounting denunciation of the new Chinese law, with Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokesman Luong Thanh Nghi saying that the law and other moves by China in recent months are illegal and invalid and seriously violate Vietnam's sovereignty. However, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said Friday that there was no change to existing regulations but a technical amendment. There is no need cat all to reenforce China's long standing and clear claim of rights and interest over the South China Sea by passing a local regulation. China also ask the US to stay out, as Beijing prefers negotiations with individual countries.
