China Rejects New Philippine Maritime Laws, Accuses Manila Of Violating South China Sea Claims

China has openly rejected new maritime laws passed by the Philippines, accusing Manila of violating Beijing’s territorial claims in the South China Sea.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed two laws on Friday that define the country’s maritime zones, rights, and transit routes to protect its sovereignty over waters claimed by both countries.

China’s foreign ministry reacted immediately, vowing to take all necessary measures to protect what it considers its territorial sovereignty.

The Chinese foreign ministry issued a formal protest, saying that Philippine legislation severely infringes on China’s rights. It discussed China’s position of nearly full acquisition of the South China Sea, also claimed by Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam.

The South China Sea has long been a hotspot of international tension, with claims over the territory and resources increasing in recent years.

In a strong statement, China’s foreign ministry criticized the new Philippine laws to legitimize the 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration at the Hague, which had ruled against China’s sweeping maritime claims.

Even though China rejected the court’s decision, the Philippines and the United States, Manilla’s important allies, supported the decision.

The United States has always supported the Philippines and has promised to protect Filipino assets in times of armed conflict.

The Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act and the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, two laws passed by President Marcos, laid out clear boundaries for Philippine maritime entitlements and enforced sea lanes.

Under the new laws, Manila claims exclusive rights to resources within its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), which extends 200 nautical miles from its coast.

Philippine officials, including National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, support the law, viewing it as essential for protecting maritime resources and Philippine territorial integrity.

Año said that the legal instrument solidifies their territory and improves their ability to protect the country against any violation.

China’s response included naval activities, with its coast guard alleging repeated intrusions by Philippine ships and aircraft near the disputed Scarborough Shoal, which both countries claim. China’s coast guard also accused the Philippines of “illegal fishing” in areas that China considers its territory.

China has previously established a dominant presence in the region by converting reefs into militarized islands equipped with missile defense systems.

These modifications include Mischief Reef, which, according to UNCLOS, is within the Philippines’ EEZ but is controlled by China.

Recent encounters between the coast guards of both nations have raised concerns about future conflicts, with Beijing being accused of using water cannons and other aggressive tactics.

The new Philippine laws come after China released a controversial national map last year that reaffirmed its territorial claims with “dash lines” across the South China Sea.

The Philippines, along with other Southeast Asian nations, rejected this map, seeing it as an expansion of China’s already vast territorial claims.

Though the regulations will take effect shortly after publication, executing them may be difficult for the Philippines, given China’s strong maritime and military presence.

References: Reuters, AP News

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