Philippines Defines Its Sea Routes to Defend Interests

A China Coast Guard ship (L) is seen from the Philippine Coast Guard vessel BRP Cabra during a supply mission to Sabina Shoal in disputed waters of the South China Sea on August 26, 2024. Jam Sta Rosa / AFP

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos signed laws on Friday defining the country’s sea waters and imposing fixed lanes for foreign ships, sparking a sharp riposte by China that summoned Manila’s envoy.

The Maritime Zones Act marks out waters that fall within Manila’s territory and areas outside of it to which it has maritime entitlements, as agreed by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

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