Territorial dispute with China: Philippines passes laws on South China Sea

The Philippine government has passed two new laws in the dispute with China over controversial areas in the South China Sea. It clearly defines maritime zones and sea routes through the archipelago as well as flight routes. The aim is to strengthen the island state’s claim to certain regions and to consolidate territorial integrity. The newspaper “The Philippine Star” spoke of a “landmark measure”. But this is likely to cause new trouble with Beijing.

According to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the Philippine Maritime Zones Act and the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act are intended to reinforce the country’s sovereignty and maritime rights under international law. “Our people, especially our fishermen, should be able to make a living without insecurity and harassment,” he said. “We must be able to exploit the mineral and energy resources on our seabed.”

Beijing reacted angrily to the decision and summoned the Philippine ambassador, as the Chinese foreign office announced. China condemns the Philippines’ actions and sees them as a violation of its territorial sovereignty and maritime interests in the South China Sea, said spokeswoman Mao Ning.

Frequent incidents with Chinese ships

The dispute has seen repeated ship collisions and Chinese attacks with water cannons for years. The People’s Republic claims practically the entire South China Sea for itself. The Philippines, but also Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei, reject the claims and cite a 2016 UN arbitration court ruling. However, China does not recognize the ruling. The resource-rich area is also considered an important global trade route.

With the laws, the Philippines, a close ally of the United States, hopes to be able to better monitor and deter future attacks. However, it is questionable whether they can help defuse the tense situation in the region.

The Philippine military has been holding a two-week exercise with around 3,000 soldiers since Monday. The capture of islands in the South China Sea and amphibious operations are also being rehearsed. According to its own statements, the country wants to improve its defense capability, even if the exercises are not directed against a specific country.