China opposes new PH sea laws, summons envoy

Department of Research, Strategic Studies and International Relations09-11-2024

China “strongly condemns and opposes” the two new laws which define the maritime zones and sea lanes of the Philippines and has summoned Philippine Ambassador Jaime Florcruz to lodge formal protests.

“Let me emphasize that the so-called ‘Philippine Maritime Zones Act’ illegally includes China’s Huangyan Dao (Scarborough Shoal, also known as Panacot or Bajo de Masinloc), as well as most of the islands and reefs of China’s Nansha Qundao (Spratly Islands), along with their associated waters, within the Philippines’ maritime zones,” Mao Ning, spokesman for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said during a press conference on Friday, the same day that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed the “Maritime Zones Act” and the “Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act.”

Mao said the legislation seeks to legitimize illegal arbitral awards related to the South China Sea – a move that “severely violated China’s territorial sovereignty, maritime rights, and interests” in the area.

“We strongly condemn and firmly oppose this situation. China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights in the South China Sea are firmly based on historical and legal grounds. They comply with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). They will not be impacted by the ‘Philippines Maritime Zones Act,'” Mao said.

Mao said the so-called arbitral award on the South China Sea was “illegal, null, and void,” referring to the 2016 arbitral ruling that granted the Philippines sovereign rights to the marine resources in the disputed waters.

“China does not accept or recognize it. We oppose and do not accept any claim or action based on the award,” she said.

“The Philippines seeks to justify its illegal claims and actions in the South China Sea by approving the so-called ‘Maritime Zones Act’ to implement UNCLOS. This is illegal, null and void,” she stressed.

The UNCLOS or the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, according to its website, is an “international agreement that establishes a legal framework for all marine and maritime activities.” It was put into force in November 1994 and has since been ratified by 168 parties, including the Philippines and China.

Mao alleged that this Philippine legislation violated the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and will make the situation in the South China Sea more complex.

“China will firmly oppose any infringement activities and provocations by the Philippines in the South China Sea based on the act,” Mao said.