President Marcos brushed aside China’s protests to the Philippines’ new maritime and archipelagic sea lanes legislation as he reaffirmed his country’s sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Speaking in Tagaytay City on Thursday, Mr. Marcos pointed out that the twin laws only serve to reinforce the Philippines’ longstanding stance on its maritime rights.
“Nothing has changed because our situation is still the same. Our position is still the same,” the President told reporters.
Last week, Mr. Marcos enacted two key laws, the Philippine Maritime Zone (PMZ) Act, and the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes (PASL) Act, to bolster the nation’s maritime position before the community of nations.
The PMZ Act delineates the Philippines’ maritime boundaries according to international law, safeguarding its territorial waters, exclusive economic zone (EEZ), and continental shelf, which are crucial for asserting jurisdiction over other claimants.
Likewise, the PASL Act designates sea lanes for foreign vessels in Philippine waters, enhancing maritime security while ensuring navigation freedom under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), allowing the Philippine authorities to regulate foreign vessels along set routes.
Mr. Marcos stated that these laws are vital for strengthening the Philippines’ sovereignty and security amid escalating maritime tensions.
As this developed, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) summoned Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian to relay the Philippine Government’s protest against China’s establishment of baselines around Panatag Shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc.
“The said baselines infringe upon Philippine sovereignty and contravene international law… The said baselines have no legal basis and are not binding on the Philippines,” DFA spokesperson Teresita Daza told reporters on Thursday.
China’s latest move is seen as a tit-for-tat reaction to the Philippines’ enactment of the PMZ and arePASL Acts.
However, the DFA emphasized that the two laws only reaffirm the country’s sovereignty and rights, and are consistent with the UNCLOS.
Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning criticized the Philippines, accusing it of “illegally incorporating the South China Sea into its new maritime laws.”
“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.
On the same day the Philippine President enacted the laws, China summoned Philippine Ambassador Jaime FlorCruz.
China also asserted its own claims over the Scarborough Shoal, which it calls Huangyan Island, by releasing its version of “territorial waters” surrounding the area.
Daza reiterated that the Philippines has formally protested this action, adding that, as of November 2024, the Philippines has filed 56 protests against China this year alone.
The total number of protests under President Marcos Jr. from July 1, 2022, to November 12, 2024, now stands at 189.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “Marcos reaffirms stance on new maritime laws amid China’s objection.”
