MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed that it summoned the Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines to deliver the country’s protest over China’s drawing of baselines around Bajo de Masinloc.
In a message to reporters, DFA Spokesperson Asec. Ma. Teresita Daza shared the DFA’s statement, saying it has summoned Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian to express the Philippines’ opposition to the government of China’s “delimiting” and announcement of its “baselines of the territorial sea adjacent to Huangyan Dao”, locally called Bajo de Masinloc.
“The Department summoned Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian earlier today (Wednesday) to deliver the Philippines’ protest over China’s drawing of baselines around Bajo de Masinloc on 10 November 2024,” the statement read.
“The said baselines infringe upon Philippine sovereignty and contravene international law, particularly the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2016 Arbitral Award. The said baselines have no legal basis and are not binding on the Philippines,” the DFA statement added.
The protest was lodged after the DFA reiterated the country’s position “that the enactment of Republic Act (RA) 12064 or the Philippines Maritime Zones Act is a legitimate exercise of the country to determine and declare its maritime zones, consistent with international law.”
The DFA also shared the response of the National Maritime Council (NMC) on China’s announcement of baselines around Bajo de Masinloc.
“The Council notes the announcement by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the baselines and corresponding base points around Bajo de Masinloc (BDM),” the statement read.
“These baselines are drawn in violation of the Philippines’ long-established sovereignty over the shoal throughout history. The establishment of the baselines by China around the shoal is a continuation of its 2012 illegal seizure of the shoal, which the Philippines continues to strongly oppose,” the NMC statement continued.
The statement also mentioned that the use of the straight baselines around the shoal by China contravenes United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the final and binding 2016 Arbitral Award.
“Straight baselines can only be used in accordance with the criteria and conditions provided in UNCLOS, as explained in the 2016 Arbitral Award. These conditions are not present in the case of the BDM,” the NMC statement said.
The DFA is a member of the NMC with other relevant agencies, particularly the Secretaries of the Departments of National Defense (DND), Agriculture (DA), Energy (DOE), Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and National Security Adviser (National Security Council).
The Foreign Ministry of China earlier expressed its opposition to the Philippines’ new maritime law, saying it “severely violates China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea.”
“The so-called “Philippine Maritime Zones Act” aims to further solidify the illegal arbitral award on the South China Sea in the form of domestic legislation and illegally include China’s Huangyan Dao and most of the islands and reefs of China’s Nansha Qundao, and their relevant waters into the Philippines’ maritime zones,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.
“This move severely violates China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea. China firmly opposes it and will continue to do everything necessary in accordance with law to firmly defend its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry added.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. enacted Republic Act No. 12064, or the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, which identifies the country’s maritime zones and internal waters; and Republic Act No. 12065, or the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act, which designates the country’s archipelagic sea-lanes and air routes.
