China Rejects Philippine Maritime Claims Over Disputed Reefs

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China rejected maritime jurisdiction claims by the Philippines over Mischief Reef and Subi Reef, labeling the assertions illegal and null and void. The dispute intensified following a September 11 statement from the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs demanding that Beijing cease artificial island construction on Panganiban Reef (Mischief Reef) and Zamora Reef (Subi Reef), arguing such activities violate international law.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun dismissed the Philippine Maritime Zones Act and the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award, characterizing the award as a political manipulation with no binding force. Guo asserted that Nansha Qundao, including the disputed reefs, is inherent Chinese territory and argued that Philippine claims are absurd and random. He maintained that construction activities on these features are legitimate matters of Chinese sovereignty.

Manila continues to maintain that these features are low-tide elevations that cannot be appropriated as sovereign land. The Philippines asserts that these areas fall under its sovereign rights and jurisdiction according to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. China has vowed to take resolute measures to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and demanded that the Philippines cease provocations.