中国要求菲律宾释放9名被捕渔民

China is demanding that the Philippines release nine Chinese fishermen who were arrested in a part of the South China Sea claimed by both countries.

The fishermen, who were detained in May near the Half Moon Shoal, were fined this week $100,000 each for poaching an endangered species of sea turtle.

China's foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying on Tuesday urged Manila to "unconditionally release" the boat and the fishermen. Hua said the men and the boat were "illegally seized" by the Philippines, which she said "violated China's sovereignty and rights of administration."

China claims the Half Moon Shoal, along with nearly the rest of the South China Sea.

Earlier this year, the Philippines filed a challenge with a United Nations tribunal over China's maritime claims. Beijing says it does not recognize international arbitration of the dispute and has refused to defend itself or otherwise take part in the proceedings.

Vietnam, the Philippines, Brunei and Malaysia all have overlapping territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea.中国要求菲律宾释放在南中国海有争议海域被捕的9名中国渔民。

这些人今年5月在半月礁被菲律宾警方逮捕，菲律宾法院这个星期判决他们偷猎珍稀海龟罪名成立，每人罚款大约10万美元。

中国外交部发言人华春莹星期二敦促马尼拉“无条件”释放这些人员与船只，并说这些渔民被菲律宾“非法逮捕”，“侵犯了中国的主权和行政管辖权”。

中国宣称对半月礁以及其他南中国海岛屿拥有主权。

今年稍早，菲律宾就中国的领海声索向联合国国际法庭提起诉讼。北京表示，不承认对于海洋主权争议的国际仲裁，并拒绝辩护或者参与司法过程。

越南、菲律宾、文莱、台湾、马来西亚和中国对南中国海所有或部分岛屿宣称拥有主权。