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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Marcos on China's response to PH maritime zones laws: It is not unexpected

Marcos on China's response to PH maritime zones laws: It is not unexpected

Published Nov 11, 2024 01:58 pm

President Marcos said it was not unexpected that China would criticize the Philippines for passing two new laws that reaffirm the country's rights over maritime zones.

West Philippine Sea.jpg

The two new laws—the Philippine Maritime Zones Act and the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act—would serve the country's purpose to protect its sovereign rights and sovereignty by closely defining boundaries, Marcos said.

"Well, it’s not unexpected but we have to define closely… Marami tayong sinasabi (We keep on saying) that we have to protect our sovereign rights and our sovereignty," Marcos said in an interview on the sidelines of the Seatrade Cruise Asia 2024 in Parañaque City on Monday night, Nov. 11.

"So, it serves a purpose that we define closely what those boundaries are, and that’s what we are doing," he stressed.

Marcos made the statement when sought for reaction to China's comment that the passage of the new laws would only worsen the tension in the South China Sea.

On Friday, Nov. 8, the President signed into law the Philippine Maritime Zones Act and the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act, which reaffirm the country's rights over maritime zones.

The Philippine Maritime Zones Act declares the Philippine sovereignty and defines sovereign rights over the maximum extent of its maritime zones, while the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act ensures the protection of the country’s sovereignty and maritime domain by designating the routes and areas that shall be utilized and accessed by foreign military vessels and foreign-registered aircraft.

According to Department of Justice (DOJ) senior state counsel Fretti Ganchoon, by enacting the new laws, the Philippines is not inciting conflict with other countries, but to clarify and update the Philippine maritime laws, especially those provisions that are inconsistent with  United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

READ MORE: What if countries, like China, won't recognize new laws on PH maritime zones?

Mao Ning, spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry, said on Nov. 8 that the move "severely violates China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea." 

Related Tags

Philippine Maritime Zones Act PH-China South China Sea Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act President Marcos
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