​China has objected to President Marcos' signing of two maritime laws that have affirmed the Philippines' sovereignty over its maritime zone, including its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), part of which is being illegally claimed by Beijing.

Mao Ning, spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry, said the ministry summoned Manila's envoy to Beijing, Ambassador Jaime FlorCruz, following the passing into law of the Philippine Maritime Zones Act and the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act.

The Philippine Maritime Zones Act declares the Philippine sovereignty and defines sovereign rights over the maximum extent of its maritime zones, such as internal waters, archipelagic waters, territorial sea, contiguous zones, exclusive economic zones (EEZ) and continental shelf in compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), existing laws and treaties.

The Philippines' EEZ, institutionally called the West Philippine Sea, covers the 200-nautical miles of waters from the country's coast; and part of which is being claimed by China as part of its territory.

Meanwhile, 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 for passage, under the UNCLOS and the Chicago Convention.

For Mao, parts of the Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act "are not compatible with regulations of international law and resolutions of the International Maritime Organization."

Mao said the law incorporated supposed parts of China's territory into the Philippines' maritime zone and attempted to "solidify" the South China Sea Arbitration Ruling in the form of domestic law.

She also dismissed the validity of the Arbitral Award, which many countries see as affirmation of the Philippines' territorial sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea based on UNCLOS.

"This move severely violates China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea," she said.

Maintaining that China has historical claims over the entirety of the South China Sea, Mao said, China strongly condemns and opposes any violation of its purported territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the waters.

She also said that China will respond to infringing and provocative actions committed by the Philippines.

"China urges the Philippines to earnestly respect China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, immediately end any unilateral move that may escalate the dispute and complicate the situation, and keep the South China Sea peaceful and stable," she said.

"We ask the Philippines to earnestly abide by international law and not to undermine other countries’ lawful rights under UNCLOS and other international law," she added.