Philippines' Marcos signs laws to assert South China Sea rights

Beijing calls Maritime Zones Act 'serious violation' of its territorial sovereignty

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. takes legal moves to bolster the country's assertion in the South China Sea. © Reuters

RAMON ROYANDOYAN and YUKIO TAJIMA, Nikkei staff writers

November 8, 2024 19:02 JST

MANILA/BEIJING -- Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed two laws on Friday aimed at strengthening his country's claims and sovereignty in the South China Sea as tensions persist in the area.

The Maritime Zones Act seeks to declare Manila's maritime entitlements, defining the extent of its 12-nautical mile territorial sea and the exclusive economic zone that spans 200 nautical miles, among others, while the Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act marks sea lanes and air routes in a bid to demarcate the country's territory.