Philippines defines its sea routes to defend interests

Manila: Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos on Friday signed laws defining the country s sea waters and imposing fixed lanes for foreign ships, spar...

Manila: Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos on Friday signed laws defining the country's sea waters and imposing fixed lanes for foreign ships, sparking a sharp riposte by China which summoned Manila's envoy.

The Maritime Zones Act marks out waters that fall within Manila's territory as well as areas outside of it to which it has maritime entitlements, as agreed by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

They include some waters contested by China, which claims most of the South China Sea including areas close to the shores of the Philippines.

A second law, the Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act, authorises the president to impose fixed sea and air routes through which foreign ships or planes may pass "without compromising our national security", Marcos said at the signing ceremony.

"By defining and asserting our maritime zones, we project to the international community that we are staunchly committed to nurturing, cultivating and protecting our maritime domain," he said.