Philippines says China’s new official map shows “unreasonably expansive claim”

The Philippines' Foreign Ministry says China's new official map, which gives greater play to its claims in the South China Sea, goes against international law. (Courtesy Reuters)
The Philippines’ Foreign Ministry says China’s new official map, which gives greater play to its claims in the South China Sea, goes against international law. (Courtesy Reuters)

MANILA, Philippines — China’s newly unveiled official map, which includes an expanded claim in the South China Sea, violates the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), a Palace official said on Thursday.

China appears to have extended its maritime claims from the original nine-dash line to a ten-dash line, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said during a press briefing. 

“To put it simply, dinrowing lang nila ‘yon. Lahat naman ng drawing na ‘yan ay na-supersede na ng UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (it’s just a drawing. All those drawings are  already supercedes by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea,” Coloma added.

The new map shows that China’s territory is closer to the land mass of the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam, which are all claimants to islands and reefs in the South China Sea. 

He said the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has already made a statement concerning the matter, that China’s newly drawn map is “unreasonably expansive.”  

He said this is also the position of the other countries with various claims in the South China Sea or West Philippine Sea.

Coloma reiterated President Benigno S. Aquino III’s position that the maritime dispute should be resolved peacefully. 

“Kaya patuloy pa rin ang ating paghahanap ng pangmatagalang solusyon na hahantong sa kaayusan at katahimikan sa buong rehiyon.  (So we are still looking for a lasting solution that will lead to order and peace in the region),” said Coloma.

Philippine Foreign Ministry spokesman Charles Jose said on Thursday (June 26) the publication of the map showed China’s “unreasonably expansive claims” that he said contravened international law.

Chinese state media on Wednesday (June 25) said China had unveiled a new official map of the country giving greater play to its claims on the South China Sea, making the disputed waters and its numerous islets and reefs more clearly seem like national territory.

Previous maps included China’s claims to most of the South China Sea, but in a little box normally in a bottom corner to enable the rest of the country to fit easily onto a single leaf.

The new, longer map dispenses with the box, and shows continental China along with its self-declared sea boundary in the South China Sea – stretching right down to the coasts ofMalaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines – on one complete map.

“Such a publication only shows China’s unreasonably expansive claim that is contrary to international law and UNCLOS. It is precisely such ambitious expansionism that is causing tensions in the South China Sea,” Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose told reporters during a news conference.

“Well, the map per se will not make the territories you claim yours. If it were so, then we can each draw our own version of the map. So your map should be based on international law,” Jose said.

He added that the dispute on territorial boundaries will be resolved in the arbitration case thePhilippines has filed at the U.N., and reiterated the call for China to participate.

Last year, the Philippines filed a case at the United Nations arbitral court in The Hague. Manila is seeking confirmation at the tribunal of its right to exploit waters in its 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone as allowed under the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). China has refused to participate in the case.

Beijing claims about 90 percent of the South China Sea, but parts of the potentially energy-rich waters are also subject to claims by the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.

Tensions have risen sharply in the region in recent months, especially between China and bothVietnam and the Philippines.

China’s positioning of an oil rig in waters claimed by both Beijing and Hanoi last month has lead to rammings at sea between ships from both countries and anti-Chinese violence in Vietnam.  (with a report from Reuters)