Manila has protested China’s publication of what it claims to be a new standard map, which depicts a broader coverage of the waters and land features within Philippine territory.

“The Philippines rejects the 2023 version of China’s Standard Map issued by the Ministry of Natural Resources of the People’s Republic of China on August 28, 2023, because of its inclusion of the nine-dashed line (now a ten-dashed line) that supposedly shows China’s boundaries in the South China Sea,” the Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Thursday.

“This latest attempt to legitimize China’s purported sovereignty and jurisdiction over Philippine features and maritime zones has no basis under international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),” it emphasized.

The “new standard” map, referred to by China as its latest act of hegemony, was released on August 28 by the Ministry of Natural Resources of China. The new map claims more land around Taiwan and to the north of India, while also reiterating China’s 9-Dash Line claims that were rejected by the United Nations Law of the Sea tribunal. Just days before, President Xi Jinping stated at the most recent BRIC conference that “hegemonism is not part of China’s DNA.”

Taiwan, also known as the “Republic of China,” is viewed by Mainland China as a “renegade province,” subject to reunification (currently in a stalemate since the 1949 civil war). The Philippines had already challenged the contentious “9-dash line” before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2013.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration, based in The Hague, issued a significant decision on July 12, 2016, finding no legal support for China’s assertion of “historic rights” over nearly the entire South China Sea.

“The 2016 Arbitral Award invalidated the nine-dashed line. It categorically stated that maritime areas of the South China Sea encompassed by the relevant part of the ‘nine-dash line’ are contrary to the Convention and without lawful effect to the extent that they exceed the geographic and substantive limits of China’s maritime entitlements under the Convention,” the DFA said.

“The Philippines, therefore, calls on China to act responsibly and abide by its obligations under UNCLOS and the final and binding 2016 Arbitral Award,” the department stressed.

2016 decision “final and binding” – Año

When asked to comment on China’s new map, National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano said the 2016 arbitral verdict is “final and binding” and assured the government that the Philippines’ territory and sovereignty would be protected.

“We do not recognize the 10-dash line. We do not even recognize the nine-dash line, much more the 10-dash line. The arbitral award is final and binding and it gives us our maritime entitlement, our extended economic zone, our territorial waters, and even our extended continental shelf,” Año said at a press briefing.

“We will continue to protect our territorial integrity and our national sovereignty. Our armed forces, our uniformed services, our government will do everything in its capacity to ensure that we are protecting our national interest,” he added.

10-dash line map will only increase PH claim for WPS – Zubiri

According to Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, China’s new standard map will only bolster support for the Philippines’ sovereignty claims in the West Philippine Sea and further isolate China in the eyes of the international community. Zubiri also suggests that India, another member of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) economic bloc, has reportedly become estranged from China.

India has protested China’s updated map as it includes the Aksai Chin region and the state of Arunachal Pradesh.

“Misery loves company. The criticisms over their expansive 10-dash line will solidify support for the arbitral ruling, which quashed the previous nine-dash line. More countries will support the Philippines in condemning that ridiculous 10-dash line,” Zubiri said.

At a separate briefing, Sen. Francis Tolentino claimed that China’s publication of a new map was part of its “aggressive expansion.”

He promised to hasten the adoption of the “Maritime Zone Law,” which is now being considered by the Senate Special Committee on Philippine Maritime and Admiralty Zones. This law will define the nation’s internal waters, territorial sea, contiguous zone, exclusive economic zone (EEZ), and continental shelf.

“We should prioritize the maritime zone bill because China’s 10-dash line is inching closer to Batanes,” Tolentino added.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros, on the other hand, referred to China as being “delusional” and demanded the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority create a map that displays the nation’s continental shelf and territorial waters inside of its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

“We know that China is a master manipulator, willing to bend the truth for her own gain, at the expense of countries like ours. China will continue to spread fake news, fund pro-Beijing mouthpieces, and distribute propaganda materials. We must push back. We must not rest until China stops her absurdity,” Hontiveros said.

Photo: Global Times