Senator Jinggoy Estrada urged the Philippine government to consider bringing China's baseline claim before the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague or even to the United Nations.

Estrada said this in response to China’s recent efforts to reinforce its claim over the West Philippine Sea by declaring the baselines of its territorial sea around Bajo de Masinloc.

"The government's actions should extend beyond merely filing diplomatic protests and summoning Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian," he said.

"Let’s disseminate to these international bodies our new maritime law for their reference and let’s formally bring to their attention the recent action of PROC," he added.

The senator also emphasized that the Scarborough Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc undoubtedly belongs to the country; a fact clearly recognized by the PCA itself in their 2016 ruling that invalidated China's claim to the West Philippine Sea, which acknowledges the Scarborough Shoal as part of the country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

"Scarborough Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc falls within our EEZ, as defined by international law, specifically the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)," he added.

The Philippine government has already summoned China’s envoy to Manila to protest Beijing’s baseline claim.

Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino has said that nothing prevents the Philippine government from also summoning China’s ambassador to the country, and providing the latter with official copies and a briefing on the two landmark maritime laws recently signed by President Ferdinand Marcos.

Tolentino made the remark in reaction to a question about China summoning the country's ambassador to Beijing, just hours after the signing of the two landmark laws to express its strong objection.

The incident should not intimidate the government, Tolentino said, but should even strengthen its resolve to assert its rights and entitlements over the country’s maritime domain.

“We should not be pressured and bullied into a corner. The mere fact that they are reacting and behaving in that manner is a clear indication that our position is right, based on the might of international law,” stressed Tolentino, Chair of the Senate Special Committee on Philippine Maritime and Admiralty Zones.

“We deserve and expect respect as a sovereign nation. I can even deliver [a copy] of the laws to them,” he added, noting that China will, in due time, receive an official copy of the Philippine Maritime Zones Act from the United Nations itself.

Meanwhile, he said the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act will be submitted to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).