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MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo on Wednesday said China鈥檚 new policy to detain without trial foreigners 鈥渋llegally crossing鈥� its 鈥渂orders鈥� is unacceptable.

Speaking to reporters in a press conference, Manalo said China鈥檚 policy has 鈥渘o legal basis.鈥�

鈥淭he president made it very clear, that announcement by China is unacceptable. In my view, [it] has no legal basis,鈥� said Manalo.

READ: Marcos: China鈥檚 new detention policy in SCS 鈥榰nacceptable鈥�

鈥淭here鈥檚 no legal basis for that. What鈥檚 even more worrying is that it does not only affect the Philippines; theoretically, it will affect every country in the world,鈥� he emphasized.

China has claimed much of the South China Sea, which overlaps with the West Philippine Sea.

An article published by the South China Morning Post on May 16 detailed the new regulation, which will take effect on June 15, 2024.

鈥淏eijing has fleshed out the Chinese coastguard鈥檚 powers to detain foreigners suspected of illegally crossing borders, rolling out regulations on Wednesday that stipulate suspects can be held for up to 60 days without trial, amid rising tensions in the South China Sea,鈥� the article reads.

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鈥淲e will have to see if they鈥� if China implements [it]. As I have said, this is an issue that goes beyond just the Philippines鈥� so I hope other countries will also speak [up],鈥� Manalo added.