China reaffirms boundaries near flashpoint reef
BEIJING—China on Sunday reasserted its territories around Scarborough Shoal, claiming it has published baselines on that area, two days after the Philippines defined its own sea boundaries in the South China Sea.
President Marcos on Friday signed two laws defining the country’s seawaters and imposing fixed lanes for foreign ships, sparking a sharp riposte by Beijing’s foreign ministry which also summoned Manila’s envoy, Jaime FlorCruz.
Beijing reiterated on Sunday that it had “delimited and announced the baselines of the territorial sea adjacent to Huangyan Dao”—its name for Scarborough, a strategic feature closest to the Philippines, which also calls the flashpoint reef Panatag Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc.
China took control of Scarborough in 2012 following a standoff with the Philippine Navy.
“This is a natural step by the Chinese government to lawfully strengthen marine management and is consistent with international law and common practices,” the Chinese foreign ministry said.
Beijing, however, has brushed aside a 2016 international ruling to a Philippine arbitral case invalidating its claims to most of the South China Sea.
‘International law’
The Philippines’ Maritime Zones Act (Republic Act No. 12064) marks out waters that fall within Manila’s territory as well as areas beyond, where it still has maritime entitlements, in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
A second law, the Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act (RA 12065), authorizes the President to impose fixed sea and air routes through which foreign ships or planes may pass “without compromising our national security,” Mr. Marcos said at the signing ceremony.
The Chinese foreign ministry said it “firmly opposes” the Philippines’ actions which “severely violates China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea.”
Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson Col. Francel Padilla said of China’s opposition to the new Philippine laws: “The AFP defers legal matters to higher agencies, such as the Department of Foreign Affairs, which are mandated to address such issues. However, we remain committed to our duty to uphold and defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Philippines.”
Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya, spokesperson for the National Security Council, said “there’s no reason” for China to protest because what’s stated in this maritime zones law “is simply what’s stated in international law.”
He also dismissed China’s pronouncement that it has identified baselines for Scarborough Shoal.
“Their press statement didn’t include any specifics, so, we don’t see anything substantial. I think they’re just reaffirming their claim over Scarborough Shoal without providing details, unlike our law, which is very clear,” Malaya said.
