MANILA, Philippines — Beijing on Tuesday vowed to provide assistance to Filipino fishermen in near future after imposing its annual fishing ban in the disputed South China Sea. Earlier this year, China issued its annual moratorium on commercial fishing in the Yellow/Bohai Seas, East China Sea and the South China Sea which include the Scarborough Shoal, the Paracel Islands and the Gulf of Tonkin. "In order to help Philippine fishermen increase production and improve their livelihood in the near future, China will provide 100,000 young Lapu-Lapu fish to fishermen of Palawan region," Wang told reporters in Manila. The moratorium, however, does not include the Spratly Islands or the southern reaches of the so-called nine-dash line. READ: Defense, military chiefs visit disputed South China Sea island | China alarmed by Philippine military execs' visit to Pag-asa Island

Source: Philippine Star July 26, 2017 02:47 UTC