The Philippines’ rights to explore and exploit natural resources in the Philippine Sea, including Talampas ng Pilipinas (Philippine Rise or Benham Rise), has been bolstered with the signing last Friday of Republic Act 12064,

President Marcos signed into law yesterday two measures designating sea and air routes for foreign ships and aircraft within the country’s archipelagic waters. Marcos said Republic Act 12064 or the Philippine Maritime Zones Act clearly defines the extent and boundaries of the country’s maritime zones in accordance with the Constitution,

China asserts its claim of sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea through an armada of coast guard ships, some of which are accused by its neighbours of aggressive con

China summoned the Philippines' ambassador on Friday to express its objection to two new laws in the Southeast Asian nation asserting maritime rights and sovereignty over disputed areas of the South China Sea,

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. enacted on Friday two laws bolstering his nation’s maritime claims and pushed to tap energy resources, as tensions with Beijing in the South China Sea persist.

A report by the news agency Reuters said that the two laws- the Maritime Zones Act and the Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act would define the Philippines's maritime entitlements and set designated sea lanes and air routes to reinforce sovereignty and maritime rights under international law.