China Rejects Philippines Maritime Baselines Around Scarborough Shoal

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China formally rejected the Philippines' delimitation of territorial sea baselines around Scarborough Shoal, which Beijing refers to as Huangyan Dao. The Chinese government characterized the move as a grave infringement of its territorial sovereignty and a violation of international law, including the United Nations Charter and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The dispute escalated after the Philippines deposited an official nautical chart of the shoal with the United Nations to reinforce its legal maritime entitlements. Beijing further condemned the Philippines' Maritime Zones Act, asserting that it illegally incorporates Huangyan Dao and islands of the Nansha Qundao into Philippine maritime zones. China reiterated its position that the 2016 South China Sea arbitration ruling is null and void and maintains that the shoal is inherent Chinese territory.

China warned that it would respond resolutely if the Philippines continues what it describes as provocations and acts of infringement in the area. The Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs previously defended the nautical chart as a means of providing legal certainty to its maritime entitlements under international law.