The Philippines on Monday rejected China’s assertion of sovereignty over the entire South China Sea, responding sharply to claims made by the Chinese embassy regarding the disputed Scarborough Shoal.
Philippine Foreign Ministry spokesperson Rogelio Villanueva said Beijing cannot determine territorial rights through unilateral declarations or social media statements.
“China must be reminded that maritime and territorial claims are subject to established international legal procedures and dispute settlement mechanisms,” Villanueva told reporters during a press briefing.
He reaffirmed that the Philippines has “indivisible, incontrovertible and longstanding sovereignty” over Scarborough Shoal and the islands that Manila occupies in the Spratly Islands.
The statement comes after the Chinese embassy in Manila posted on social media that a former Philippine ambassador had once suggested in an interview that Scarborough Shoal was not part of Philippine territory. Chinese officials have not yet responded to the Philippine government’s latest remarks.
Scarborough Shoal, located about 200 kilometers off the Philippines and within its exclusive economic zone, remains one of the most contested features in the South China Sea. Although both countries claim sovereignty over the shoal, it is currently under the effective control of China through the constant presence of its coast guard vessels.
The strategically located atoll lies near major international shipping routes and is known for rich fishing grounds and a lagoon that provides shelter for vessels during storms.
Villanueva stressed that sovereignty is not simply declared but must be exercised in accordance with international law.
Tensions between Manila and Beijing have escalated in recent years, with the Philippines accusing Chinese vessels of aggressive actions inside its exclusive economic zone. These incidents include the use of water cannons and interference with resupply missions to Philippine-controlled outposts.
China, however, maintains that its coast guard operations are lawful and aimed at defending what it considers its territorial waters.
In 2016, the Philippines won a landmark arbitration case at the Permanent Court of Arbitration, which ruled that China’s sweeping claims over most of the South China Sea had no legal basis under international law. Beijing has consistently rejected the ruling.