Philippines President Marcos Jr. signs laws to demarcate South China Sea territories

Philippines President Marcos Jr. signs laws to demarcate South China Sea territories

Sub: IR

Sec: Places in news

Context:

• Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed two significant laws that reinforce the country’s territorial claims and maritime rights in the South China Sea.

The laws are:

• Philippine Maritime Zones Act: Establishes and affirms the boundaries of Philippine maritime territories, including its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and asserts its sovereignty over maritime resources in the disputed areas.
• Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act: Defines the sea lanes through Philippine archipelagic waters and reaffirms the country’s control over navigation routes and associated resources in the region.

Significance of the Laws:

• The legislation underscores the Philippines’ commitment to protecting its maritime resources.
• The laws further oppose China’s nearly complete territorial claims over the South China Sea, which have been declared invalid by an international arbitral tribunal under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in 2016.
• The laws introduce penalties, including jail terms and fines, for violators of the maritime provisions.

China’s Reaction:

• China accused the Philippines of attempting to solidify the ruling of the 2016 South China Sea arbitration case, which favoured the Philippines.
• It held that the new legislation infringes on its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights.