New Phl maritime laws get US backing, anger China

The United States has lauded the Philippines' enactment of the Maritime Zones Act that seeks to further buttress the country's sovereign rights over its waters, particularly the West Philippine Sea, in accordance with international law.

- MICHAEL PUNONGBAYAN

In a statement, the US State Department, through spokesman Matthew Miller, said the new law, signed on Friday by President Marcos, aligns Philippine domestic laws with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal ruling.

"This law defines the Philippines' internal waters, archipelagic waters, territorial sea, contiguous zone, exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in line with the Convention," Miller said.

"The United States values Philippine leadership in upholding international law, particularly in the South China Sea, and calls on all states to comport their maritime claims to the international law of the sea as reflected in the Convention," he said.

He clarified that other nations, including fellow members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), had enacted similar legislation over the years.

"The passage of the Maritime Zones Act by the Philippines is a routine matter and further clarifies Philippine maritime law," he pointed out.

National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, meanwhile, thanked Marcos for signing the Philippine Maritime Zones Act and the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act and the Senate and the House of Representatives for passing the landmark legislations.

"This marks a pivotal moment in fortifying our maritime sovereignty and securing our national interests, aligned with international law and in accordance with the Philippines' rights and obligations under the UNCLOS," he said.

"With the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, we reaffirm our sovereignty over our internal waters, territorial sea, archipelagic waters, as well as our sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf," he added.