PH unfazed as China protests new maritime laws

PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY | Published November 14, 2024

TAGAYTAY CITY – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said Thursday the Philippines remains firm in its position on the West Philippine Sea (WPS) even after China objected to the passage of the new maritime and archipelagic sea lane laws.

In a media interview, Marcos said nothing changes in the government’s policies even after China summoned the Philippine ambassador to protest the signing of the new laws.

Ang sabi nila (They are saying) that we do not agree and you will – that they will continue to protect what they defined as their sovereign territory. Of course, we do not agree with their definition of sovereign territory,” he told reporters.

The President last week signed the Maritime Zones Act and the Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act into law to strengthen the country’s maritime claims and bolster its territorial integrity.

The Philippine Maritime Zones Act or Republic Act (RA) 12064 aims to declare the rights and entitlements of the Philippines over its maritime zones to establish legal bases for the conduct of social, economic, commercial, and other activities in the areas.

 

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SOURCE: www.pna.gov.ph

RELATED: China’s coastguard circles Scarborough Shoal after Philippines stakes its legislative claim

The Chinese authority says it conducted a patrol as a law enforcement activity

SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST | Published November 14, 2024

The Chinese coastguard patrolled around a contested South China Sea shoal on Thursday, a day after the country’s military mounted a joint sea and air patrol in the area.

“The China Coast Guard conducted law enforcement patrols in the territorial waters of China’s Huangyan Island and the surrounding area,” the China Coast Guard said, referring to Scarborough Shoal, known as Panatag Shoal in the Philippines

“This was a law-enforcement activity carried out by the Chinese maritime police in accordance with the law.”

The patrol comes less than a week after Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr signed the Maritime Zones Act and Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act, embedding Manila’s claims to the South China Sea in domestic law.

The US expressed its support for the Philippine legislation, saying other countries had passed similar laws.

Two days later, China published a set of geographic coordinates for 16 base points around Scarborough Shoal, the first time it has done so for territory also claimed by the Philippines.

 

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SOURCE: www.scmp.com

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