In response to China’s 10-dash-line claim in the South China Sea, the Senate Special Committee on maritime and Admiralty Zones will hold its first meeting on Thursday to begin crafting a new Philippine map.
The Senate’s map will be different from the map that the National Security Council (NSC) is currently working on.
Senator Francis Tolentino, who chairs the committee, has earlier filed Senate Bill 2294, or the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, which aims to declare maritime zones under the jurisdiction of the Philippines based on the standards set by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Unlike the Philippine Baselines Law, SB 2294 will encompass exclusive economic zones (EEZ), the continental shelf, and even the underground features belonging to the country.
Last month, Beijing released its 10-dash-line map, which further expanded its claims in the disputed South China Sea. The Philippines filed a diplomatic protest over the map, which overlaps with its EEZ.
The creation of a new Philippine map is a significant development in the country’s efforts to assert its sovereignty in the South China Sea. It is also a rebuke to China’s aggressive expansionism in the region.
The Senate’s map is likely to be met with resistance from China, but it is a necessary step for the Philippines to protect its interests in the South China Sea.
Source: PhilNews24 | September 15, 2023
