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Orange Wang

China has marked out its territorial claim to the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea after the Philippines passed legislation outlining its rival claim.
On Sunday Beijing published a set of geographic coordinates for 16 base points around the feature, which it calls Huangyan island, the first time it has done so for parts of the sea claimed by Manila.
“Huangyan Dao [island] has always been China’s territory,” the Chinese foreign ministry said.
“This is a natural step by the Chinese government to lawfully strengthen marine management and is consistent with international law and common practices.”
The baselines for Scarborough Shoal were not newly drawn but announcing them was a “direct” response to the Philippine acts, according to a post on Yuyuan Tantian, a social media channel affiliated with state broadcaster CCTV.
“The reason we hadn’t published it earlier is that China has consistently taken a rational, restrained and responsible approach to handling maritime issues with neighbouring countries,” the post said.


“In the face of the Philippines’ ‘ridiculous words’, China replied directly with a single line.”
Beijing said its announcement is in accordance with international law, such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos), and China’s domestic law.
Unclos defines a baseline as the starting line along the coast used by a state to measure the breadth of its territorial sea and other maritime zones.
The waters on the landward side of a baseline are considered internal waters, while the seaward side can include territorial seas, contiguous zones, exclusive economic zones and the continental shelf.
It typically follows the low-water mark along the shore. But in some cases, straight baselines can be drawn connecting specific points along the coast, which is the approach adopted by China.
On Sunday China’s Ministry of Natural Resources also announced standard names for 64 islands and reefs in the South China Sea, providing each with its name in Chinese characters and pinyin and precise coordinates.
Most of these features are located in the Spratly Islands, including several near the Second Thomas Shoal and Sabina Shoal where ships from the two countries have clashed repeatedly.
On Friday Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr signed two pieces of legislation – the Maritime Zones Act and Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act – that embedded its claims into domestic law.
Beijing responded by summoning the Philippine ambassador to “lodge stern representations” over the matter.
The foreign affairs committee of the National People’s Congress, China’s top legislature, said the Maritime Zones Act “seriously infringes China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights in the South China Sea”.
On Sunday, the foreign ministry in Beijing accused Manila of trying to “illegally” include Scarborough Shoal and the Spratly Islands in its maritime zones and said China will “do everything necessary in accordance with law to firmly defend its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests”.




The United States expressed its support for the Philippine move, saying other countries have passed similar laws.
“The passage of the Maritime Zones Act by the Philippines is a routine matter and further clarifies Philippine maritime law,” the State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said.
On Sunday, the China Coast Guard also issued a statement on Scarborough Shoal, accusing the Philippines of “provocation” by sending military and law enforcement vessels and aircraft near the atoll.
It also said Philippine fishing boats were “illegally operating” in the lagoon, adding that some of them were suspected of using poison, capturing endangered species and “harming the fragile ecosystem of the area”.
Coastguards said they would continue patrolling around Scarborough Shoal to “firmly uphold order, protect the local ecosystem and biological resources and safeguard national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights.”
Beijing claims most of the most of the islands and rocks in the South China Sea and rights over their adjacent waters, leading to territorial disputes with several neighbouring countries.


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Scarborough Shoal is claimed by China and the Philippines. Photo: Wikipedia

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A Chinese warplane patrols islands and reefs in the South China Sea including Scarborough Shoal, claimed by China as Huangyan Island and by the Philippines as Panatag Shoal. Photo: Xinhua

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr (centre) during the ceremonial signing of the Maritime Zones Act and Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act, at the presidential palace in Manila on Friday. Photo: Handout via AP

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Philippine vessels participate in a  military drill on Wednesday in the South China Sea. Photo: AP

A Chinese coastguard vessel seen near Thitu Island in the South China Sea on Wednesday. Photo: AP

Construction being carried out on the Philippine-occupied Thitu Island in the South China Sea. Photo: AP

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A member of the crew on a mainland Chinese vessel keeps watch as the PLA carries out drills around Taiwan, a point of contention with Washington. Photo: Handout

News

China

Diplomacy

Beijing publishes its baselines for South China Sea feature in response to legislation setting out Manila’s rival claim


Beijing publishes its baselines for South China Sea feature in response to legislation setting out Manila’s rival claim.


China-Philippines relations

China-Asean relations