China has ‘goodwill arrangements’ on fishing arrangements in South China Sea, foreign ministry

May 15, 2024 - 3:54 PM
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An aerial view of Iroquois Reef, frequented by Filipino fishermen and part of the Philippine 200-mile exclusive economic zone, in the South China Sea, March 9, 2023. (Reuters/Eloisa Lopez)

China’s foreign ministry on Wednesday said it has goodwill arrangements on fishing practices in the South China Sea, addressing a report of Philippine commercial vessels in disputed waters.

Civilians on board Philippine fishing boats sailed on Wednesday towards a China-controlled reef off the Southeast Asian country to distribute provisions to Filipino fishermen and assert their rights to the disputed waterway, according to the South China Morning Post.

READ: Philippines says to ensure safety of civilian mission in South China Sea

“The island is our territory and we have indisputable sovereignty,” said a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson. “We have goodwill arrangements on fishing practices.”

—Reporting by Mei Mei Chu; Writing by Bernard Orr; Editing by Christopher Cushing