The Philippines, China and the PH Maritime Zones Act

The Philippines recently passed the the Philippine Maritime Zones Act and the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act, which set the extent of the Philippines' exclusive economic zone where it has exclusive rights to its ocean natural resources and identifies the sea lanes through which both foreign ships and aircraft pass through.

For several years, The Philippines and China have disputed the maritime rights and sovereignty of the West Philippine Sea. China has been harassing Filipino fishing vessels in the disputed area that falls within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone. Chinese vessels have been using water cannons and ramming Filipino fishing vessels.

This harassment has taken a toll on the livelihood of the Filipino fisherman trying to fish at Escoda (Sabina) Shoal.

"Filipino fisherfolk assert rights on West PH Sea over China’s ‘detention orders’" by Dominic Gutoman for Bulatlat
https://www.bulatlat.com/2024/05/20/filipino-fisherfolk-assert-rights-o…

"What are the PH Maritime Zones Act, Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act all about?" by Bea Cupin for Rappler
https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/explainers/maritime-zone-archipelagic…

"China’s harassment takes toll on PH fishers" by Nestor Corrales for The Philippines Daily Inquirer
https://www.inquirer.net/412530/chinas-harassment-takes-toll-on-ph-fish…

"Holding the line along the West Philippine Sea" by Rommel Jude G. Ong for Rappler
https://www.rappler.com/voices/thought-leaders/opinion-holding-line-wes…