China Coast Guard regulations allowing it to detain foreign nationals suspected of trespassing in waters it claims for up to 60 days took effect Saturday, stoking fears of escalation amid rising tensions in the disputed South and East China seas.
The updated regulations, which were announced last month and expand on China’s 2021 coast guard law, detail procedural guidelines for cracking down on what it defines as illegal activities within “waters under China’s jurisdiction.”
It stipulates that foreign nationals suspected of violating Chinese immigration regulations or “jeopardizing national security interests or undermining public order” in the country’s claimed waters can be detained for 30 days, or up to 60 days in “complicated cases.”