The Chinese Government is calling on the authorities in the Philippines for the immediate release of 9 Chinese fishermen who have been convicted of poaching in the South China Sea.
Hua Chunying is with the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
"China has indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha islands. The Philippines seized Chinese fishing boats illegally in the waters around Nansha and conducted a so-called trial against the Chinese fishermen. This violates China's sovereignty and jurisdiction. We are firmly opposed to this. We urge, once again, that the Philippine side release the fishermen and their fishing boats without condition."
The 9 Chinese fishermen were convicted on Monday and face fines of over 100-thousand US dollars each.
A failure to pay the fine means the group will have to stay in jail in the western Philippines until May.
