On Sunday, China dismissed recent maritime claims by the Philippines, asserting that new legislation signed by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. infringes on Beijing’s territorial rights in the South China Sea. This latest development adds to longstanding tensions in the disputed region, as both nations seek to establish their authority over overlapping maritime areas.
President Marcos signed two pivotal laws on Friday aimed at clarifying the Philippines’ maritime entitlements. These laws define designated sea lanes and air routes, reinforcing the country’s sovereignty over its territorial waters.
However, China responded swiftly through its foreign ministry, stating it “firmly opposes” the Philippines’ new legislation and pledging to take “all necessary measures” to protect its territorial claims in the South China Sea, Reuters.
China’s claims to nearly the entire South China Sea encompass areas that overlap with the exclusive economic zones of several neighboring countries, including the Philippines, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam.
This territorial assertion is bolstered by China’s rejection of a 2016 ruling from the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, which found that Beijing’s sweeping claims have no basis under international law. The United States, a key ally of the Philippines, has consistently supported the court’s decision, further fueling geopolitical tension in the region.
READ ALSO: Ukraine Launches Largest Drones Strikes on Moscow
The focus of the dispute includes the contested Scarborough Shoal—referred to as Huangyan Island by China—which has long been a flashpoint for sovereignty and fishing rights. On Sunday, China’s foreign ministry reaffirmed a baseline of “territorial waters” around the shoal, categorically claiming it as Chinese territory.
In recent years, China has enacted domestic laws covering the South China Sea, such as a 2021 coast guard law that grants its coast guard authority to detain foreign vessels suspected of “trespassing” within China’s claimed waters.
With a formidable coast guard fleet, China regularly patrols and asserts its authority over disputed areas in the South China Sea, frequently accusing foreign vessels of “trespassing” in waters it claims. The Philippine Coast Guard has reported several clashes with Chinese vessels in the past year, particularly around the Scarborough Shoal, which lies well within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
On Sunday, China’s coast guard alleged that the Philippines has repeatedly dispatched military and police vessels into Chinese-claimed waters near the shoal, accusing Manila of promoting “illegal fishing” in the contested area, Reuters.
This ongoing conflict over the South China Sea represents not only a clash over natural resources but also a larger geopolitical struggle. The Philippines has recently sought to solidify its maritime defenses, especially given the support it receives from the United States.
For China, defending its expansive claims is seen as essential to its vision of regional dominance, with the South China Sea regarded as a strategic and economically critical area.
The Philippines’ new legislation is expected to strengthen its legal standing, but it also risks escalating tensions with Beijing. As both countries maintain firm stances on their territorial claims, the South China Sea remains a critical hotspot, with potential repercussions for regional stability and the global balance of power.