China has established a baseline around the disputed Scarborough Shoal (known in China as Huangyan Dao) in the South China Sea in response to the Philippines’ recent enactment of the Maritime Zones Act. This move marks another intensification in the ongoing maritime dispute, with further pushback from the Philippines expected.
On Sunday, China’s Foreign Ministry stated on its website, affirming its claim to Huangyan Das (Scarborough Shoal in the West), calling it “an inherent territory of China.” The Ministry explained that China had set territorial waters baselines around Huangyan Dao, following international protocols, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and China’s “Territorial Sea” and “Contiguous Zone Act.” According to the Ministry, these actions are “normal measures” for strengthening maritime management in compliance with international law and practices.
The Ministry statement also criticized the Philippines’ recent moves to formalize its claims in the South China Sea. China accused the Philippines of incorporating both the 2016 South China Sea arbitration ruling—which China rejects—and the newly enacted “Maritime Zones Act” into its domestic law. Beijing claims that these measures “seriously undermine China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights” by arbitration into domestic law. This move seriously attempts to include “most of the islands, reefs, and related waters of Huangyan Dao and the Nansha Islands in illegal maritime zones.” The Ministry warned that China “firmly opposes” these actions and “will take all necessary measures to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights resolutely.”
That same day, the Chinese Coast Guard reiterated its stance, stating that China has “long exercised sovereignty and jurisdiction over Huangyan Dao in a continuous, peaceful, and effective manner.” The Coast Guard accused the Philippines of provocations, citing recent instances of Philippine military vessels and government ships allegedly entering the area’s waters and airspace, which it claims “seriously infringe on China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights.”
The Coast Guard also criticized the Philippines for encouraging its fishing boats to operate on the coral reefs of Huangyan Dao for illegal fishing. Some Filipino fishing vessels have engaged in illegal activities, such as capturing endangered wildlife, which has harmed the fragile ecosystem of the area. In response, China vowed to “strengthen patrols and law enforcement in Huangyan Dao’s territorial waters and related areas,” grounding its actions in domestic laws such as the “Coast Guard Law,” “Fisheries Law,” and “Marine Environmental Protection Law,” as well as international agreements like UNCLOS.
On November 8, the Chinese Foreign Ministry issued a statement criticizing the Philippines’ Maritime Zones Act, accusing it of “illegally including China’s Huangyan Dao and most of the islands and reefs of China’s Nansha Qundao (Nansha Islands) and relevant waters into the maritime zones of the Philippines” of Huangyan Dao and the Nansha Islands into the Philippines’ maritime zone. China claims the new law seeks to solidify the “illegal” South China Sea arbitration ruling in Philippine law.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos recently signed the Maritime Zones Act after it was approved by the legislature. This law designates specific maritime and air routes for foreign vessels and aircraft, drawing sharp rebuke from China. China’s response indicates heightened tensions, with the potential for further escalation.
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