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Philippines protests China's baseline claim over waters off Panatag Shoal

Philippines | National

Philippines protests China's baseline claim over waters off Panatag Shoal

By Joseph Pedrajas

The Philippines has protested China’s move to declare its own baseline on the territorial sea on the waters adjacent to Panatag Shoal (Scarborough Shoal).

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Manila sent its protest to Beijing on Tuesday, Nov. 12, after it declared its illegal baseline claim over Panatag, also known as Huangyan Dao in China.

China claims sovereignty over Panatag, which is located well within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Tuesday's move has added to the growing number of Philippines' diplomatic protests against China.

Since the start of the year, Manila has already filed a total of 56 protests against China, according to DFA.

"The total number of protests under President Marcos Jr. for the period 01 July 2022 to 12 November 2024 is 189," it added.

On Sunday, Nov. 10, China mapped out its own baseline on waters off Panatag, saying it was "a natural step by the Chinese government."

But its move came after President Marcos signed into law the Philippine Maritime Zones Act and the Philippines Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act—two laws that affirm the country’s sovereign rights over its maritime zone, including the EEZ, part of which is being claimed by China as its own.

Marcos said it was "not unexpected" that China would resist the Philippines' move, considering that the Philippine government has been vocal about protecting its sovereignty, particularly over the West Philippine Sea.

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

Related Tags

Diplomatic protest Department of Foreign Affairs Panatag Shoal

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