China vows to protect South China Sea sovereignty despite opposing new Philippine maritime laws
China has rejected Philippine maritime claims, saying that new legislation infringes "severely" on Beijing's territorial sovereignty in the South China Sea and its rights, and has vowed to protect their own interests.
On Friday, Philippine President Ferdinand Marco Jr. signed two laws to clarify the maritime rights of the country and to designate sea lanes and routes for air travel to strengthen sovereignty.
The foreign ministry stated that "China strongly opposes" this, and would continue to take the necessary legal measures to defend China's territorial and maritime sovereignty as well as its interests and rights.
Beijing claims sovereignty in nearly the entire South China Sea. This includes areas claimed by Brunei and Malaysia. China rejects the 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration at the Hague, which said that its broad claims are not supported by international laws.
Manila brought the case to court, and the United States, an ally of the Philippines, supports the ruling.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs defined "territorial water" as a baseline around Scarborough Shoal. China claims this area to be its territory. It calls it Huangyan Island. The shoal has been a source of dispute over fishing rights and sovereignty.
China has passed domestic laws that cover the South China Sea. For example, a 2021 coast guard law allows China to detain suspected foreign trespassers.
Beijing accuses ships of trespassing on areas of the South China Sea which are within the exclusive economic zone of its neighbours. It has also clashed with the Philippines several times in the last year.
China's coastguard issued a Sunday statement saying that the Philippines had sent warships, aircraft and military personnel to "intrude", into the airspace and waters near Scarborough Shoal. The Chinese coast guard accused Manila of promoting "illegal" fishing in the area. Reporting by Ella Cao, Beijing; and Marius Zaharia, Hong Kong. Editing by Tom Hogue & William Mallard.
(source: Reuters)
