MANILA. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed two laws on Friday, the Philippine Maritime Zones Act and the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act, reasserting Manila’s rights to resources in the South China Sea. This legislative move, aimed at reinforcing the Philippines’ territorial claims under international law, has sparked an immediate and strong response from China, which claims nearly the entire disputed waterway.
Following the signing, China’s foreign ministry summoned the Philippine ambassador to lodge a “stern protest.” In a statement, the ministry condemned the laws as an attempt to “solidify the illegal ruling of the South China Sea arbitration case through domestic legislation.” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning added, “This seriously infringes on China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea. China strongly condemns and firmly opposes it.”
The laws, signed in a televised ceremony with top military and national security officials present, outline the extent of Philippine territorial waters, including the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) — a 200-nautical-mile stretch where the Philippines claims exclusive rights to tap energy and other resources. President Marcos emphasized that these laws serve to “protect our maritime resources, preserve our rich biodiversity, and ensure that our waters remain a source of life and livelihood for all Filipinos.” Violators of these laws face steep penalties, including prison terms and fines.
National Security Adviser Eduardo Año highlighted the strategic importance of these laws: “These legal instruments solidify our territory and enhance our ability to protect our country against any infringement.”
The Philippine Maritime Zones Act formally marks key portions of the country’s territorial waters, while the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act enables the Philippines to designate specific transit lanes and air routes for foreign vessels and aircraft, aligning with international law.
The Philippines’ stance is rooted in the 1982 U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and a 2016 international arbitration ruling that invalidated China’s broad territorial claims based on historical grounds. Although China refused to participate in the arbitration and has continuously defied the ruling, the Philippines’ new legislation echoes these legal standards. The final version of the maritime zones bill states, “all artificial islands constructed within the Philippine EEZ belong to the Philippine government.” This targets structures such as China’s militarized island bases, including Mischief Reef, which lies within the Philippine EEZ.
However, enforcing these laws remains challenging, as China’s military presence has grown increasingly aggressive in the contested waters. China’s coast guard, navy, and suspected militia have reportedly used water cannons, lasers, and dangerous maneuvers to assert control over what it considers its territory.
Carlo Juancho FuntanillaFrontend Developer, WordPress, Shopify
Contributing Editor
AMA ACLC San Pablo
