China Condemns Philippines New Sea Laws, Intensifies South China Sea Standoff

In a strong rebuke, China rejected new maritime legislation passed by the Philippines on Sunday, stating that it “severely infringes on” Beijing’s territorial sovereignty and rights in the South China Sea. China’s Foreign Ministry vowed to protect its interests, criticizing Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s recent signing of laws aimed at defining the Philippines’ maritime entitlements and establishing specific sea lanes and air routes to bolster its sovereignty.

“China firmly opposes this and will continue to take all necessary measures in accordance with the law to resolutely defend China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests,” the Chinese foreign ministry asserted.

Beijing claims almost the entirety of the South China Sea, overlapping areas claimed by several Southeast Asian nations, including the Philippines, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam. China has continued to reject a 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, which determined that Beijing’s expansive claims are unsupported by international law. The US, a Philippine ally, backs this ruling.

In its statement, China reiterated its claims around the Scarborough Shoal referred to as Huangyan Island in China which has been a focal point for disputes over fishing rights and territorial sovereignty. China’s recent laws governing the South China Sea, including a 2021 Coast Guard law permitting detention of foreign vessels accused of trespassing, have escalated tensions. The Chinese Coast Guard has frequently accused vessels of entering areas within exclusive economic zones claimed by its neighbors.

On Sunday, China’s coast guard accused the Philippines of sending military and police vessels near the Scarborough Shoal, alleging that Manila was promoting “illegal fishing” in the region, thus further intensifying a dispute that has seen increased confrontations over the past year.