PH reasserts sovereignty over Bajo de Masinloc at UN

LOS ANGELES, CA - The Philippine Mission to the United Nations, led by Ambassador Antonio Lagdameo, firmly asserted that Bajo de Masinloc is part of the country's territory despite China's claims.

Ambassador Lagdameo emphasized that the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the binding 2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea serve as the foundation of the Philippines' claim over what is also known as Scarborough Shoal.

Lagdameo also mentioned new Philippine laws related to maritime zones and archipelagic sea lanes to the United Nations.

“In line with UNCLOS, the Philippines this year enacted two historic laws: the Philippine Maritime Zones Act and the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act. Through these, we strengthen the alignment of our national laws with UNCLOS, enhance our capacity for ocean governance, and improve our maritime policies for economic development and national security,” he stated at the United Nations.

Ambassador Lagdameo criticized China's actions, saying, “The response of China, which announced baselines around Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal—located west of Luzon, Philippines—and submitted a map of territorial sea baselines, including straight baselines and outer limits of the territorial sea, along with a list of geographical coordinates of related points, constitutes a violation of UNCLOS and undermines the rules-based international system.”

The statement was delivered during the General Assembly debate on ‘Oceans and the Law of the Sea,’ an annual plenary agenda item that discusses developments related to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and issues concerning oceans and international maritime law.

There, Lagdameo maintained that the Philippines is committed to using peaceful means in resolving disputes.

“We uphold the UN Charter and the Manila Declaration on the Peaceful Resolution of Disputes in asserting our sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction over the South China Sea,” said Ambassador Lagdameo.

—VAL, GMA Integrated News