MANILA, Philippines — On Friday, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. enacted two new laws reaffirming the jurisdiction of the Philippines over its maritime boundaries and resources, especially in the contentious South China Sea. This legislative action directly opposes China’s expansive territorial claims in the region, provoking a stern response from Beijing.
In reaction to the situation, China’s foreign ministry summoned the Philippine ambassador to express its strong disapproval of the new laws, labeling them as an attempt to “solidify the illegal ruling” related to the South China Sea arbitration case through domestic legislation. Tensions in the waters have escalated in recent months, drawing concerns about the potential involvement of the United States, a long-time ally of the Philippines, in any major confrontation that may arise.
The newly signed laws, referred to as the Philippine Maritime Zones Act and the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act, were unveiled during a nationally aired ceremony that included high-ranking military and national security officials. These laws delineate the Philippines’ rejection of China’s claims and establish penalties, including jail time and fines, for violations. “These signal our resolve to protect our maritime resources, preserve our rich biodiversity and ensure that our waters remain a source of life and livelihood for all Filipinos,” President Marcos remarked.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning criticized the Philippine government’s actions, declaring that they “seriously infringe on China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea.” The Chinese government recently illustrated its claims over almost the entire South China Sea with ambiguous dashed lines in a national map published in the previous year, which has led to protests from other neighboring countries including Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
The Maritime Zones Act clarifies numerous parts of the Philippine archipelago’s marine territory and surrounding waters, asserting the country’s sovereignty as per international law and the 1982 U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea. This legislation includes the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), a 200-nautical-mile area where the Philippine government holds exclusive rights to exploit marine resources.
Moreover, the Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act enables the Philippines to define specific sea routes and air corridors within the archipelago that foreign vessels and aircraft can navigate while adhering to national regulations and international laws. National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano emphasized that these legal frameworks bolster the nation’s territorial integrity and improve its capacity to counteract any violations.
While President Marcos claims these laws are in alignment with international standards and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), many aspects of these provisions starkly contradict China’s claims and could lead to further diplomatic standoffs. The feasibility of the Philippines enforcing these newly established laws within the region remains uncertain, especially considering China’s increasing assertiveness in asserting its territorial claims.
Although the official copies of the laws have not yet been released, a preliminary version of the Maritime Zones Bill indicates that any artificial islands built within the Philippine EEZ are under the jurisdiction of the Philippine government. This revelation is crucial, particularly as China has built military bases on seven disputed reefs, including Mischief Reef, which lies within Philippine waters.
These new legislations anchor the Philippines’ maritime entitlements on UNCLOS and a 2016 international arbitration decision that dismissed China’s historical assertions to vast areas in the South China Sea. China rebutted that decision, refusing to take part in the arbitration, and continues to disregard its implications. Beijing’s coast guard, navy, and suspected militia have aggressively employed various intimidation tactics against other nations’ vessels accused of encroaching on their claimed territories.
The United States has reassured that it is committed to defending the Philippines, its oldest treaty ally in Asia, particularly in the event of an armed attack on Filipino vessels or soldiers in these disputed waters.