The Philippines formally rejected China’s assertion of jurisdiction over the entire South China Sea, the Foreign Ministry said on Monday, reaffirming Manila’s “indivisible, incontrovertible and longstanding sovereignty” over key disputed features including Scarborough Shoal and Thitu Island.
In a statement, the Philippine foreign ministry said Beijing’s sweeping claims, which are rooted in historical maps and a controversial nine‑dash line, have no basis under international law. Manila’s position reflects its ongoing stance that the contested waters and maritime features fall within its exclusive economic zone as defined by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and affirmed by a 2016 arbitral tribunal ruling.
The announcement comes amid persistent tensions in the South China Sea, where China has repeatedly asserted maritime rights across vast swaths of the waterway claimed by several Southeast Asian states. Scarborough Shoal, known in the Philippines as part of the West Philippine Sea, has been a recurring flashpoint; China’s expansive claims were invalidated in a 2016 tribunal decision, a ruling Beijing continues to reject.
Regional security concerns have led Manila to strengthen diplomatic and defence ties with partners such as Japan and the United States in recent months, a response to China’s assertiveness in contested waters.
The Philippines’ latest rejection underscores the deepening maritime dispute and the challenge of resolving overlapping claims in one of the world’s most strategically significant seas.