Mla slams Beijing’s expanded SCS claim

The Department of Foreign Affairs has strongly protested China's inclusion of the entire West Philippine Sea in the newest version of its standard map, calling it "unacceptable."

Manila, through the DFA, made this very clear to Beijing on Thursday as it rejected China's map that depicts its new "10-dash line" claim to the entire South China Sea, including maritime zones of the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam and Indonesia.

The map was issued by China's Ministry of Natural Resources on 28 August, drawing protests from Malaysia and India (see related story).

"This latest attempt to legitimize China's purported sovereignty and jurisdiction over Philippine features and maritime zones has no basis under international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea," the DFA said.

The DFA reiterated to China that a 2016 international arbitral ruling invalidated its "nine-dash line" claim in the South China Sea and affirmed the Philippines' exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea.

This was in reference to the final judgment rendered by the Permanent Court of Arbitration on 12 July 2016.

"It (decision) categorically stated that 'maritime areas of the South China Sea encompassed by the relevant parts of the nine-dash line are contrary to the Convention and without lawful effect to the extent that they exceed the geographic and substantive limits of China's maritime entitlements under the Convention,'" the statement said.

"The Philippines, therefore, calls on China to act responsibly and abide by its obligations under UNCLOS and the final and binding 2016 Arbitral Award," the DFA added.

China claims nearly the entire South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea, but has not recognized the arbitral ruling. Neither did Beijing participate in the court's proceedings.

During a Malacañang press briefing, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Daniel Espiritu confirmed Manila had filed a diplomatic protest with Beijing regarding the issue.

Beijing's revised map features a sequence of 10 dashes arranged in a U-shape, encompassing not only parts of the Philippines but of self-ruled Taiwan as well as parts of the exclusive economic zones of Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam and Indonesia.

"Suffice it to say that we have already expressed our opposition to that matter," Espiritu told Palace reporters.

"We are definitely against it, we reject it, and we continue to advocate for a peaceful resolution of disputes in that aspect," he added.

Asked how this would affect the Philippine position when Marcos meets with his Southeast Asian and Chinese counterparts during the upcoming Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit, Espiritu said the leaders would not complete their discussions on the matter in just one, two, or three meetings.

"Progress has been made. We also expressed our profound satisfaction with recent developments in the South China Sea, particularly on the issue of the water cannoning," Espiritu said.

"We emphasized that these actions must be avoided, as they erode trust, escalate tensions in the South China Sea, and destabilize the peace and stability in the region," Espiritu added.

China's defense

For its part, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs defended the map, saying it is "in accordance with the law."

"On 28 August, the Ministry of Natural Resources of China released the 2023 edition of the standard map. It is a routine practice in China's exercise of sovereignty in accordance with the law," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said.

Wang called on the countries affected by the new map to "stay objective and calm, and refrain from over-interpreting the issue."

Four of the 10 members of ASEAN are primary claimants to the resource-rich South China Sea — Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and the Philippines.

Final and binding

In reaction, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año said the Philippines does not recognize China's nine-dash line claim, more so its expanded 10-dash line.

"The arbitral award is final and binding," Año said. "It gives us our maritime entitlement, our extended economic zone, our territorial waters, and our extended continental shelf."

The Philippines, he said, is not alone in its rejection of the 10-dash line. India and Malaysia have also expressed their opposition to the new map.

"There would be more countries, I think, to react adversely against this 10-dash line," Año said. "Our Armed Forces, our uniformed services, our government will do everything in their capacities to ensure that we are protecting our national interest."

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., meanwhile, will push for a rules-based international order and for parties to follow the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea during the upcoming 43rd Asean Summit next month, DFA Undersecretary Espiritu said on Thursday.

"The Philippines will continue to uphold and exercise freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea in accordance with international law," Espiritu added.

He said Marcos is expected to have one-on-one meetings with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, and Timor Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão.

"With Vietnam, the focus will be on strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries and, of course, cooperation on rice and food security," he said.

'Cancel China projects'

With Beijing's unrelenting expansion into the SCS, Infrawatch PH convenor Terry Ridon said the government should reconsider existing and upcoming China-assisted infrastructure projects.

"Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri had earlier suggested a boycott of all Chinese companies and products, including the Chinese Communication Construction Company, to protest Beijing's continued incursion into our territory," Ridon said.

"Why not push that call up a notch and call on the Marcos administration to cancel all China-assisted infrastructure projects in the pipeline?" he added.

There are presently six major infrastructure projects financed with Chinese loans, the biggest of which is the PNR South Long Haul Project, a 380-kilometer railway that will link Calamba in Laguna and Legazpi in Albay.

The project, which started in 2016 and is set to be completed in 2024, has a total price tag of P175.3 billion.