China submits baseline territorial charts to UN
THE Chinese Embassy in Manila confirmed on Friday that China has submitted a statement and relevant charts of the baselines of Scarborough Shoal (Huangyan Dao) in the South China Sea to assert its claim to the area. A baseline under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos) is a line that runs along the coast of a country or an island, from which the extent of the territorial sea and other maritime zones, such as the exclusive economic zone and extended continental shelf, are measured. The statement was made after reports that the Philippine Mission to the UN, led by Ambassador Antonio Lagdameo, has strongly declared that Bajo de Masinloc is within Philippine territory, despite China's claims. Lagdameo said that Unclos and the binding 2016 Arbitral Award concerning the South China Sea form the basis of the Philippines' claim to Scarborough Shoal. "In line with Unclos, the Philippines this year enacted two historic laws: the Philippine Maritime Zones Act and the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act," he said. "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," Lagdameo added. Scarborough Shoal, referred to as Bajo de Masinloc in the Philippines, is a triangular chain of reefs located approximately 125 nautical miles (232 kilometers) from Luzon, the main island of the Philippines. The shoal was being claimed by China, the Philippines and Taiwan. Since 2012, it has been under the de facto control of Beijing.
Tomas Kauer - Moderator 
THE Chinese Embassy in Manila confirmed on Friday that China has submitted a statement and relevant charts of the baselines of Scarborough Shoal (Huangyan Dao) in the South China Sea to assert its claim to the area.
A baseline under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos) is a line that runs along the coast of a country or an island, from which the extent of the territorial sea and other maritime zones, such as the exclusive economic zone and extended continental shelf, are measured.
The statement was made after reports that the Philippine Mission to the UN, led by Ambassador Antonio Lagdameo, has strongly declared that Bajo de Masinloc is within Philippine territory, despite China's claims.
Lagdameo said that Unclos and the binding 2016 Arbitral Award concerning the South China Sea form the basis of the Philippines' claim to Scarborough Shoal.
"In line with Unclos, the Philippines this year enacted two historic laws: the Philippine Maritime Zones Act and the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act," he said.
"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," Lagdameo added.
Scarborough Shoal, referred to as Bajo de Masinloc in the Philippines, is a triangular chain of reefs located approximately 125 nautical miles (232 kilometers) from Luzon, the main island of the Philippines.
The shoal was being claimed by China, the Philippines and Taiwan.
Since 2012, it has been under the de facto control of Beijing.
