Unexpected exception handling during compilation

Question

I encountered the following method, which to my surprise compiled just fine:

private String getControlMessageBlocking() throws ProtocolException,
        InterruptedException, IOException {
    try {
        // <Code that may throw any of the three listed exceptions>
        return controlMessage;
    } catch (Exception e) {
        throw e;
    }

}

Why isn't it necessary for the Exception to be caught?

Answer 1

It is the feature added in Java 7. Have a look at Rethrowing Exceptions with More Inclusive Type Checking