Beijing Rejects Philippine Maritime Claims Over Scarborough Shoal

The diplomatic friction follows Manila’s decision to deposit an official nautical chart with the United Nations earlier this week. By defining the shoal's baselines and establishing a 12-nautical-mile territorial sea alongside a 24-nautical-mile contiguous zone, the Philippines seeks to codify its maritime entitlements under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

China’s foreign ministry dismissed these claims, asserting that the feature, known as Huangyan Dao, has never been included in the international treaties that delineate Philippine territory. Beijing continues to ignore the 2016 arbitration ruling that invalidated its expansive claims in the region. With coast guard and fishing vessels frequently encountering one another in these contested waters, China warned that it would respond resolutely to any further actions it deems infringing or provocative.