Manila: China has no reason to oppose or condemn the Philippines' newly enacted Maritime Zones and Archipelagic Sea Lanes Acts, according to a National Security Council (NSC) official. NSC Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya highlighted that China has enacted similar laws, referencing its own Law on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone, which was adopted by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress in 1992. According to Philippines News Agency, Malaya stated that the Philippines is merely reaffirming and codifying its rights, and there is no violation of international law in the enactment of these acts. "The People's Republic of China has nothing to fear as we are not violating any international law in passing these acts," Malaya said during an interview at the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing. On November 8, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed the laws, which declare the maritime zones under Philippine jurisdiction and designate sea lanes in the country for foreign vessels and aircraft at Malacañan Palace in Manila. The Philippine Maritime Zones Act, or Republic Act (RA) 12064, aims to declare the rights and entitlements of the Philippines over its maritime zones and establish legal bases for social, economic, commercial, and other activities in these areas. This act outlines a general declaration of maritime zones under Philippine jurisdiction, including internal waters, archipelagic waters, territorial sea, contiguous zone, exclusive economic zone (EEZ), and continental shelf. The new law specifies the maximum extent of the territorial sea (12 nautical miles), contiguous zone (24 nautical miles), EEZ (200 nautical miles), and continental shelf. It also permits the delineation of continental shelves extending beyond 200 nautical miles, aligning with Article 76 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). It provides sovereign rights over the Philippines' maritime zones, granting the country exclusive rights to explore and exploit living and nonliving reso urces within these zones, in compliance with UNCLOS and other existing laws and treaties. Meanwhile, the Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act, or RA 12065, designates sea lanes and air routes for the continuous and expeditious passage of foreign ships and aircraft through or over the Philippines' archipelagic waters and adjacent territorial sea. This act was signed to prevent arbitrary international passage through the Philippine archipelago and outlines the rights and obligations of foreign ships and aircraft exercising the right of archipelagic sea lanes passage. In his keynote speech during the signing, President Marcos emphasized that the laws demonstrate the Philippines' commitment as a responsible member of the international community and its advocacy for a rules-based international order. He also stated that the laws reflect the administration's determination to protect the country's maritime resources, preserve biodiversity, and ensure that Philippine waters continue to be a source of life and livelihood for all Filipinos.