MANILA – China has no reason to oppose and condemn the country’s newly enacted Maritime Zones and Archipelagic Sea Lanes Acts, a ranking National Security Council (NSC) official said Monday.
NSC Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya said China has enacted similar laws, referring to its Law on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone adopted by its Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress on February 25, 1992.
“We are simply reaffirming our rights. We are simply codifying our rights. And sa tingin ko po walang kailangang ikabahala ang People’s Republic of China kasi wala naman tayong nilalabag na kahit anumang international law dito (The People’s Republic of China has nothing to fear as we are not violating any international law in passing these acts),” Malaya said in an interview at the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed the laws declaring the maritime zones under Philippine jurisdiction and designating sea lanes in the country for foreign vessels and aircraft at Malacañan Palace in Manila on November 8.
The Philippine Maritime Zones Act or Republic Act (RA) 12064 aims to declare the rights and entitlements of the Philippines over its maritime zones to establish legal bases for the conduct of social, economic, commercial, and other activities in the areas.
It provides for a general declaration of the maritime zones under the jurisdiction of the Philippines, which include internal waters, archipelagic waters, territorial sea, contiguous zone, exclusive economic zone (EEZ), and continental shelf.
The new law defines the maximum extent of the territorial sea (12 nautical miles), contiguous zone (24 nautical miles), EEZ (200 nautical miles), and continental shelf.
It also allows the delineation of continental shelves extending beyond 200 nautical miles, in accordance with Article 76 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The law provides sovereign rights over the Philippines’ maritime zones, establishing the country’s exclusive rights to explore and exploit living and nonliving resources found in the zones, in compliance with the UNCLOS and other existing laws and treaties.
Meanwhile, the Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act or RA 12065 designates the sea lanes and air routes suitable for the continuous and expeditious passage of foreign ships and aircraft through or over its archipelagic water and the adjacent territorial sea.
It was signed to prevent arbitrary international passage in the Philippine archipelago. It also prescribes the rights and obligations of foreign ships and aircraft exercising the right of archipelagic sea lanes passage through the established Philippine archipelagic sea lanes.
In his keynote speech during the signing, the President said the laws demonstrate the country’s commitment as a responsible member of the international community and advocacy to uphold rules-based international order.
He added that the laws signal his administration’s resolve to protect the country’s maritime resources, preserve the rich biodiversity, and ensure that Philippine waters remain a source of life and livelihood for all Filipinos. (PNA)