MANILA, Philippines — The Department of National Defense (DND) on Saturday rejected China’s declaration that the Philippines’ latest move to delineate its maritime zones around Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal was “illegal, null and void,” as Beijing warned it would take “firm and effective countermeasures” against what it called provocations in the South China Sea.
The DND said the Philippines’ submission of an updated nautical chart to the United Nations was a lawful exercise of its rights under international law and would not be abandoned despite China’s objections.
“BDM is an integral and longstanding part of the Philippine national territory,” the DND said in a statement, referring to Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Scarborough Shoal.
The DND said the Philippines’ maritime zones and entitlements around the shoal were established in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos) and the final and binding 2016 arbitral award on the South China Sea dispute.
“The recent submission by the Philippines of the updated nautical chart to the United Nations provides the necessary legal clarity and due publicity to the international community on the geographical limits of our maritime zones in BDM,” it said.
The statement came a day after China’s Ministry of National Defense criticized the Philippine submission and defended military exercises conducted around the disputed shoal.
Senior Col. Chen Xi, a Chinese defense ministry spokesperson, said Friday that Huangyan Dao, Beijing’s name for Panatag Shoal, was “China’s inherent territory” and that the Philippines had violated China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights.
“Relevant actions of the Philippine side seriously violated China’s territorial sovereignty, international law and the basic norms of international relations. They are illegal, null and void,” Chen said.
Beijing claims sovereignty over Panatag Shoal and has maintained control of the shoal since a 2012 standoff with the Philippines.
The shoal lies about 220 kilometers west of Zambales and is within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the West Philippine Sea.
READ: PH deposits Panatag Shoal chart with UN, despite China control
Chen said the People’s Liberation Army Southern Theater Command’s joint exercises around Panatag Shoal were “a serious warning against violations and provocations by the Philippine side.”
“These are necessary and legitimate measures to safeguard our sovereignty over Huangyan Dao and our rights and interests,” he said.
He also said the China Coast Guard had conducted law-enforcement training in nearby waters.
“We urge the Philippine side to immediately stop its illegitimate acts violating China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and stop its provocations and propaganda,” Chen said.
“The Chinese military will take firm and effective countermeasures against any provocative attempts to make waves and stir up troubles in the South China Sea.”
The DND rejected China’s characterization of the Philippine actions and said Manila would continue exercising its sovereignty over Panatag.
“The Philippines will continue the lawful exercise of its sovereignty over BDM,” the department said.
“We will not be deterred by China’s false narratives and hooliganism, as evidenced by its continued aggressive activities and attempts to distort history and the rules-based international order,” it added.
“Di kami pasisiil” (We shall not be oppressed),” the DND said.
The arbitral tribunal in The Hague ruled in July 2016 that the rocks at Panatag Shoal that are above water at high tide do not generate an EEZ or continental shelf of their own under Article 121(3) of Unclos. The shoal generates a territorial sea, the tribunal said.
The tribunal did not rule on sovereignty over the shoal. It found that Panatag had long been a traditional fishing ground for fishermen from the Philippines, China and other countries, and that China had unlawfully prevented Philippine fishermen from exercising their traditional fishing rights there after May 2012.
China rejected the 2016 arbitral ruling and continues to claim the shoal as its territory. /gsg
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