China holds drills at Scarborough Shoal in South China Sea
File photo.
China on Wednesday (Nov. 13) held sea and air combat drills at the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. China seized this uninhabited area from the Philippines in 2012.
Tensions between China and the Philippines have been building over their competing claims to Scarborough Shoal and other outcrops in the South China Sea.
According to a report by the news agency Associated Press,the People's Liberation Army (PLA) said in a statement, "This is a patrol and guard activity carried out by the theatre troops in accordance with the law."
Philippines summons Chinese ambassador in Manila
The Philippines' foreign affairs department summoned theChinese ambassador in Manila to protest China’s baselines around Scarborough Shoal.
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The department said the baselines infringe upon Philippine sovereignty and contravene international law, particularly the 1982 UNConvention on the Law of the Sea and the 2016 arbitration.
The baselines have no legal basis and are not binding on the Philippines, the department added.
China publishes baselines forScarborough Shoal
The combat drills by China came days after it published baselines for theScarborough Shoal.The foreign ministry on Sunday (November 10)posted online geographic coordinates for the baselines around the shoal.
This move came two days afterPhilippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr on Friday signed two laws that aimed at strengthening the country's maritime claims and bolstering its territorial integrity amid tensions with China in the South China Sea.
The Maritime Zones Act and the Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act would define the Philippines’ maritime entitlements and set designated sea lanes and air routes to reinforce sovereignty and maritime rights under international law.
(With inputs from agencies)