Manila: The Philippine government has expressed strong objection to China's proposal to establish a nature reserve at Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea, asserting that only Manila has the authority to create a marine protected area in the region. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) labeled the Chinese plan as 'illegitimate and unlawful,' urging Beijing to retract the proposal.

According to Philippines News Agency, the DFA emphasized the Philippines' call for China to respect its sovereignty and jurisdiction over Bajo de Masinloc. The department demanded that China refrain from enforcing and immediately rescind its State Council issuance. Furthermore, the DFA insisted on compliance with international law, referencing the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the binding 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award, and the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC).

The DFA reiterated that Bajo de Masinloc is an integral part of the Philippines, over which it maintains sovereignty and jurisdiction. It affirmed that only the Philippines has the 'exclusive authority' to establish environmental protection areas within its territory and relevant maritime zones.

The Chinese government announced on Wednesday its State Council's 'approval' of the Ministry of Natural Resources' request to create the reserve in the Scarborough Shoal, naming it the Huangyan Dao National Nature Reserve. In response, the DFA stated it will file a formal diplomatic protest, asserting that the action 'clearly infringes upon the rights and interests of the Philippines in accordance with international law.'