China's announcement about marking its territorial sea around Huangyan Dao, an atoll in the South China Sea, is a peaceful response to the provocative acts of the Philippines that violate China's territorial sovereignty, said a Chinese legal scholar.
Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed the so-called Philippine Maritime Zones Act and the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act into law on Nov 8, which China says illegally includes Huangyan Dao and most of China's Nansha Qundao and its adjacent maritime areas into the Philippines' maritime zones.
The territory of the Philippines is defined by a series of international treaties, including the 1898 Treaty of Peace between the United States of America and the Kingdom of Spain (the Treaty of Paris), and the 1900 Treaty between the United States of America and the Kingdom of Spain for Cession of Outlying Islands of the Philippines (the Treaty of Washington). Both Huangyan Dao and Nansha Qundao are beyond the limits of the Philippine territory.
The Chinese government issued a statement on Sunday releasing the baselines and base points of the territorial sea adjacent to Huangyan Dao.
Lei Xiaolu, a professor of international law at Wuhan University's China Institute of Boundary and Ocean Studies, said in an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN) that China's move is an act in line with international laws and regulations.
"It is an activity to display China's sovereignty over Huangyan Dao, pursuant to the principle of 'land dominates the sea.' A state who has a sovereignty over certain territory has a right to establish the baseline and claim maritime zones. According to the three international treaties that define the Philippines territory, Huangyan Dao is obviously beyond the territory of the Philippines limits. Therefore, when the Philippines officially signed Maritime Zones Act, which illegally includes Huangyan Dao and other maritime features in the spread list into its own maritime zones, China firmly rejected it as a move that severely violates China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights in the South China Sea," Lei said.
The professor emphasized that the announcement was a reasonable act reflecting China's determination to defend its territorial sovereignty.
"China clarifies the scope of its own maritime zone claims surrounding Huangyan Dao, which will benefit all users at sea. It's a very peaceful response to the provocative activities of the Philippines since last year. Since last year, the Philippines government vessels and aircraft intruded on Huangyan Dao's territorial waters frequently and acted provocatively. China chooses to promulgate the baselines surrounding Huangyan Dao in response to those activities, which demonstrates that China's determination to defend its territorial sovereignty as well as maintain the peace and security and stability of this region," she said.
Releasing baselines for Huangyan Dao a peaceful response to Philippines' provocation: legal scholar
Releasing baselines for Huangyan Dao a peaceful response to Philippines' provocation: legal scholar
Releasing baselines for Huangyan Dao a peaceful response to Philippines' provocation: legal scholar
