The South China Morning Post (May 4) reported that the China Coast Guard, on April 1, launched an eight-month law enforcement campaign named “Blue Sea 2020”, with one of its stated aims being to crackdown on “violations in offshore oil exploration and exploitation”, as well as marine and coastal project construction. The campaign is a multi-agency effort between the coastguard and transport, natural resources, and environment ministries.

Radio Free Asia (May 1) quoting Xinhua (May 1) said China has announced it will strictly enforce its annual summer fishing ban in parts of the contested South China Sea. The ban began on May 1 and is likely to be opposed by other claimant nations. The three-and-a-half-month ban, aimed at conserving fish stocks, extends into an area of the South China Sea up to the 12th parallel. That means China demands foreign fishing vessels not participate in any activities in and around the Paracel Islands and Scarborough Shoal – parts of the South China Sea that Vietnam and the Philippines also claim.

(Comment: The actions are an assertion of China's claim on the South China Sea maritime territories.)