Manila: Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada has called for stronger governmental actions against China's recent assertion of its claim over Bajo de Masinloc. He emphasized the need for considering legal options, such as bringing the issue before an international body like the United Nations, to effectively address the territorial dispute. According to Philippines News Agency, Estrada argued that the government's current measures, which include filing diplomatic protests and summoning the Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian, are inadequate for resolving matters related to territorial jurisdiction and sovereign rights. He highlighted the importance of escalating the response to China's actions. Estrada pointed out that Scarborough Shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc, falls within the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) as defined by international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. "Our claim to Bajo de Masinloc has a basis, so we should fight for it," he asser ted. The 2016 ruling by the arbitral tribunal in favor of the Philippines invalidated China's claims in the region. Recently, the Department of Foreign Affairs announced that it had summoned Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian after China declared the baselines around Scarborough Shoal as part of its territory.