BEIJING: The Chinese government has officially delimited and announced the baselines of the territorial sea adjacent to Huangyan Dao, marking a strategic move to reinforce marine management in accordance with international law. A spokesperson from the foreign ministry highlighted that this action aligns with common global practices.
According to Namibia Press Agency, the spokesperson reiterated that Huangyan Dao has historically been part of China’s territory. The delimitation of the territorial sea baselines adheres to international statutes such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and China’s domestic legislation, including the Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone.
The spokesperson criticized the “Philippine Maritime Zones Act,” stating that it seeks to legitimize the contentious arbitral ruling on the South China Sea by incorporating China’s Huangyan Dao and numerous islands and reefs from China’s Nansha Qundao into the Philippines’ marit
ime domains. The spokesperson declared that such actions infringe upon China’s territorial and maritime sovereignty, emphasizing China’s strong opposition and commitment to defending its rights through lawful means.