China has officially announced the baselines for the territorial sea adjacent to Huangyan Dao (Scarborough Shoal), asserting its longstanding claim over the disputed area in the South China Sea.

The move, which was outlined by a Foreign Ministry spokesperson, is framed as a legal step to reinforce China’s maritime management in the region.

According to the statement issued on November 10, the announcement aligns with international law, specifically the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and China’s domestic Territorial Sea and Contiguous Zone Law.

The spokesperson emphasized that Huangyan Dao has always been considered Chinese territory and that the baselines are consistent with global norms.

“(T)he Chinese government delimited and announced the baselines of the territorial sea adjacent to Huangyan Dao. This is a natural step by the Chinese government to lawfully strengthen marine management and is consistent with international law and common practices,” the spokesperson stated.

The release of the baselines comes amid growing tensions with the Philippines over competing territorial claims in the South China Sea. The spokesperson rejected the Philippines’ recently passed Maritime Zones Act, which asserts that the Philippines has jurisdiction over waters surrounding the disputed islands, including Huangyan Dao, which China claims as part of its territory.

“The so-called ‘Philippine Maritime Zones Act’ aims to further solidify the illegal arbitral award on the South China Sea in the form of domestic legislation and illegally include China’s Huangyan Dao and most of the islands and reefs of China’s Nansha Qundao, and their relevant waters into the Philippines’ maritime zones,” the spokesperson stated.

“This move severely violates China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea,” the spokesperson added, reiterating China’s firm opposition to the Philippine legislation.