US, Australia back new PH laws on maritime rights protection

Metro Manila, Philippines – The United States and Australia have expressed their support for newly-passed Philippine laws that will boost maritime protection in the country’s territorial waters, including the West Philippine Sea.

On Friday, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, which asserts the country’s sovereignty over its maritime zones, including internal waters, territorial seas, and archipelagic waters, along with the airspace, seabed, and subsoil.

The President also formalized the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act, which designates specific sea lanes, allowing foreign vessels and aircrafts to pass while upholding Philippine regulations.

In a statement, the US State Department welcomed the passage of the two laws, saying these are aligned with 1982 Law of the Sea Convention and the 2016 arbitral tribunal ruling.

“The United States values Philippine leadership in upholding international law, particularly in the South China Sea, and calls on all states to comport their maritime claims to the international law of the sea as reflected in the Convention,” it said.

Meanwhile, Australian Ambassador to the Philippines HK Yu also congratulated the Philippine government for ‘enacting an important maritime legislation’.

Beijing, on the other hand, summoned Philippine Ambassador to China Jaime FlorCruz and expressed its objection to the landmark legislation.

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said in March that the measure “severely violates China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights” by including areas such as Scarborough Shoal and parts of the Spratly Islands within Philippine maritime zones.

Beijing has rejected a 2016 ruling by the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration which said its expansive maritime claims over the South China Sea had no legal basis, in a case that was brought by Manila. – with reports from Tristan Nodalo and Reuters