China has formally summoned the Philippine ambassador to protest two new maritime laws signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that reinforce the Philippines’ territorial claims in the South China Sea. Beijing’s foreign ministry criticized the laws, which define Philippine maritime zones and archipelagic sea lanes, as infringing on Chinese sovereignty.
The Maritime Zones Act and the Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act assert the Philippines’ maritime rights over waters that include parts of the disputed Scarborough Shoal and Spratly Islands, referred to by China as Huangyan Island and Nansha Islands, respectively. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning described the laws as “serious infringements” on China’s territorial claims.
China rejected a 2016 ruling from the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, which invalidated China’s expansive South China Sea claims, declaring they had no legal basis. However, the ruling has U.S. support, as the United States is an ally of the Philippines.
President Marcos defended the new laws, saying they signal the Philippines’ commitment to international law and protect its rights to use and benefit from resources within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ). “Our people, especially our fisher folk, should be able to pursue their livelihood free from uncertainty and harassment,” he stated. “We must be able to harness mineral and energy resources in our seabed.”
China, which has also enacted domestic laws to solidify its South China Sea claims, urged the Philippines to respect its “territorial sovereignty and maritime rights” and to halt actions that could worsen the dispute.
While Philippine officials anticipate that the new laws may not reduce tensions with China, Senator Francis Tolentino highlighted that international support could strengthen the Philippines’ position. “China will not recognize these, but international backing would strengthen our stance,” he remarked.