"Hwang Yeon-dao and Others Illegally Included in Philippine Maritime Zone"
On the 8th, China issued a statement condemning the inclusion of the South China Sea waters in the maritime zone law promulgated by the Philippines as illegal.
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "The Philippine Maritime Zone Law illegally includes Huangyan Island (Scarborough Shoal), most islands and reefs of the Nansha Islands, and related waters within the Philippine maritime zone, attempting to solidify the illegal ruling of the South China Sea arbitration case into domestic law."
It added, "China strongly condemns and firmly opposes this measure, which seriously infringes upon China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea," and emphasized, "China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea will not be affected in any way by the promulgation of this law."
Furthermore, it stated, "China has sovereignty and jurisdiction over the Nansha Islands (Spratly Islands) and surrounding waters, as well as the Zhongsha Islands including Huangyan Island and surrounding waters," and stressed, "China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests have sufficient historical and legal grounds and comply with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea."
According to CGTN, the English-language channel under China Central Television (CCTV), Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos signed the maritime zone law, which was approved by the legislature last month, on this day.
The archipelagic sea lanes law, promulgated together on the same day, designates specific maritime and air routes for foreign ships and aircraft in the South China Sea.
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