China passes new law to power of maritime authorities
02 May 2021, 09:18 GMT+10
Beijing [China], May 2 (ANI): China has passed a new legislation to strengthen the power of its maritime safety authorities sparking fears that tensions between Beijing and other Asian countries, including Japan, may escalate in the Indo-Pacific region.
The latest revision was passed at the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislative body on Thursday (April 29). It is scheduled to be put into force on September 1, citing Xinhua, the Japan Times reported.
The legislation will enable China's maritime safety agency, which belongs to the transportation ministry, to order foreign vessels to leave what Beijing claims as its territorial waters if it thinks that they could threaten security.