China opposed the newly signed Philippine Maritime Zones Act and the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act, claiming the laws “illegally” incorporated Scarborough Shoal and Spratly Islands as part of the Philippines’ maritime zones.
China Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning in a Friday press conference emphasized that the South China Sea arbitration, despite being in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), is “illegal and invalid.”
“The law seriously violates the Declaration of the Conduct of All Parties in the South China Sea, which will lead to the complexity of the situation in the South China Sea. If the Philippines takes any infringement and provocative action in the South China Sea in accordance with the law, China will resolutely respond,” Mao warned.
She urged the Philippines to “stop taking any unilateral actions that may escalate disputes and complicate the situation, and to effectively maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea,” accusing the Philippines that such maritime laws are inconsistent with international norms.
Earlier, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Republic Acts 12064 and 12065. He called on all the concerned government agencies to “review rules and regulations against these new laws with a view of undertaking the necessary steps for their effective implementation.”
“It is expected that the clarity of the extent of the maritime zones and the determination of the archipelagic sea lanes will impact domestic laws and regulations at the national and at the local level,” Mr. Marcos said.
