Filipino citizens should be vigilant about the statements of support from imperialist US and its NATO allies in Europe regarding the Philippines’ claims to its maritime rights. This is the warning of Communist Party of the Philippines information officer Marco Valbuena regarding the law signed by the Marcos regime that institutionalizes the decision of the International Arbitral Court regarding the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea.

Two laws were signed by Ferdinand Marcos on November 8. One of these is the Maritime Zones Act (Republic Act 12064) which reflected the said decision. It defines the maritime zones of the Philippines as: 1) internal waters; 2) archipelagic waters; 3) territorial sea (within 12 nautical miles from the baseline); 4) contiguous zone (within 24 nautical miles from the baseline); 4) exclusive economic zone (within 200 nautical miles from the baseline) and 5) continental shelf. All of these are based on the standards set by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea or UNCLOS.

The second law, the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act (RA 12065), is a complementary law that sets the routes for foreign ships and aircraft passing through these waters. Archipelagic waters cover all waters surrounding, between, and connecting the islands of an archipelago.

“By and large, these help bolster Philippine claims under the UNCLOS and strengthen the country’s position relative to China,” Valbuena said. He noted the support of neighboring countries in Southeast Asia, which have largely institutionalized similar maritime zones. Vietnam has a Law on the Sea, Malaysia has a Continental Shelf Act, and Indonesia has an Archipelagic Law. Thailand has also legislated the extent of its territorial waters and EEZ. Vietnam and Malaysia, like the Philippines, have maritime disputes with China.

“However, the statements of support coming from the US and its NATO allies in Europe…are something that Filipinos should be wary of. These imperialist powers, historically and currently, are notorious for imposing their hegemony and meddling into the affairs of sovereign countries, including that of the Philippines.”

In the past decade, the US has strengthened its military presence in the South China Sea against its rival imperialist power China. It has conducted war maneuvers, including war games and freedom of navigation operations. It has also stationed offensive arms in countries surrounding China, including the Philippines.

Valbuena said these maritime disputes between the Philippines and China can and must be resolved peacefully through dialogue and other diplomatic or legal methods. “It is to the interest of the Filipino and Chinese people that an escalation of the conflict be avoided at all costs.”