MANILA, Philippines — Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. enacted two significant legislations on Friday, aimed at strengthening the nation’s claims over the contended territories in the South China Sea. These legislations, the Philippine Maritime Zones Act and the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act, seek to align the country’s maritime laws with international standards and bolster territorial sovereignty and jurisdiction, including areas challenged by China.
President Marcos pinpointed the importance of these new laws, highlighting how they underscore the Philippine’s identity as an archipelagic and maritime nation. He articulated that these laws would bolster governance capabilities, enhance economic development, and fortify national security by aligning domestic maritime policies more closely with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act delineates specific air and sea routes that foreign aircraft and vessels are permitted to use when navigating through Philippine territorial waters. Concurrently, the Maritime Zones Act explicitly includes territories within the nation’s sovereignty and jurisdiction, some of which overlap with zones claimed by China.
This legislative action comes as a backdrop to escalating tensions in the region, with China asserting nearly all-encompassing claim over the South China Sea. Beijing’s stance has included disregard for a 2016 international arbitration court ruling which found no legal or historic basis for China’s expansive claims. These developments mark a significant assertion of Manila’s rights within these disputed waters.
In response to these legislative developments, China’s Foreign Ministry reportedly summoned the Filipino ambassador in Beijing. Officials lodged a firm objection against what they perceive as encroachments on Chinese territorial sovereignty and maritime rights. According to reports, Chinese authorities contended that the laws infringe upon China’s claims to Huangyan Dao, most of the Nansha Islands, and related waters.
In Manila, the passing of these laws coincided with large-scale military exercises involving around 3,000 troops from the nation’s navy, air force, and army. These exercises simulated island seizures and amphibious operations, underscoring the military’s preparedness amidst ongoing regional disputes.
The Chinese government, through its Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning, voiced strong condemnation and opposition to the Philippine’s new acts. The language from Beijing emphasized that these laws purportedly solidify what they called the “illegal award” of the 2016 South China Sea Arbitration, an international judgment which China has consistently dismissed.
The South China Sea remains a flashpoint in Southeast Asian geopolitics, involving overlapping claims from several nations including Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan. The area is not just a critical maritime route but also believed to be rich in oil and natural gas reserves, further complicating the territorial contentions.
The Philippine government asserts that these new laws are crucial steps in upholding and defending the country’s maritime domains against any foreign claims or incursions, bolstering their position in ongoing regional disputes.
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