BEIJING — China has unveiled baselines for a disputed shoal in the South China Sea that it has taken control of from the Philippines, an action that is likely to heighten tensions surrounding overlapping territorial disputes.
On Sunday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry published geographic coordinates for these baselines surrounding Scarborough Shoal, a strategic area. Territorial waters and exclusive economic zones are generally defined by the distance from such baselines.
Both China and the Philippines assert claims over Scarborough Shoal, which is located to the west of the main Philippine island of Luzon. China captured the shoal in 2012 and has since limited access for Filipino fishermen. In 2016, an international arbitration tribunal ruled that many of China’s claims in the South China Sea were not valid. However, China has disregarded this ruling.
There have been several instances of collisions between Chinese and Philippine vessels due to escalating confrontations, including incidents where the Chinese coast guard used water cannons against Philippine ships.
The recent Chinese announcement followed two days after Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. enacted two laws aimed at clarifying the government’s territorial claims in these contentious waters.
A statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry asserted that the establishment of the baselines aligns with both a U.N. agreement and Chinese law.
“This is a natural step by the Chinese government to legally reinforce marine administration and is in accordance with international law and common practices,” the statement claimed.
The statement went on to criticize one of the laws signed by Marcos, specifically the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, claiming that it infringes upon China’s sovereignty in the South China Sea.
“China firmly opposes it and will continue to take all necessary steps according to the law to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests,” the Foreign Ministry declared.
China asserts rights over nearly all of the South China Sea and finds itself in disputes with several Southeast Asian nations, including the Philippines and Vietnam, regarding territorial claims in these waters that are crucial for shipping routes throughout Asia.