Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed two laws on the nation’s maritime security and economic development, drawing criticism from Beijing as South China Sea tensions persist.
Amid territorial dispute between China and the US-aligned Philippines which is at increasingly high risk of escalating into a conflict involving the two countries, Marcos signed on Friday the Philippine Maritime Zones Act and the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act, which, as he said, are “significant laws that emphasize the importance of our maritime and archipelagic identity.”
“With these pieces of legislation, we align our domestic laws with international law, specifically the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea or UNCLOS, improve our capacity for governance, and reinforce our maritime policies for economic development and for national security,” he said at the ceremonial signing in Malacañang.
According to the president, the measure is vital in ensuring that the country’s rights and duties are well-defined.
“Our people, especially our fisherfolk, should be able to pursue their livelihood free from uncertainty and harassment. We must be able to harness mineral and energy resources in our seabed,” Marcos said.
The new legislations were signed as Manila and Beijing are locked in a dispute over South China Sea, where the two nations have competing claims.
The Philippine Maritime Zones Act declares the Philippines’ maritime zones according to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) standards and establishes archipelagic sea lanes that create routes through the country’s waters and airspace, the Philippines presidency said last week.
Meanwhile, the PASL Act seeks to establish a system of archipelagic sea lanes and air routes, permitting foreign vessels and aircraft to exercise the right of sea lanes passage.
“The designated archipelagic sea lanes and air routes aim to facilitate safe passage for foreign ships and aircraft without compromising our national security nor diminishing our capacity for good environmental stewardship,” he said.
China Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the enactment by Philippines of Its “Maritime Zones Act” and “Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act” in a statement on Friday.
“The Philippines’ attempt to whitewash its illegal claims and actions in the South China Sea by adopting the Maritime Zones Act in the name of implementing UNCLOS is illegal and invalid. The Act seriously violates the DOC and will inevitably complicate the situation in the South China Sea. China will firmly respond to any infringement or provocative actions taken by the Philippine side in the South China Sea citing the Act as the ground,” the ministry said.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning at a regular press conference on Friday urged the Philippines to earnestly respect China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.
“China reserves the right of taking all measures necessary,” she warned.
