China has officially opposed the Philippines’ bid to extend the legal outer limits of its continental shelf in the South China Sea. In a diplomatic note, China urged the UN not to review the submission, citing infringement on its sovereignty in the region. The dispute over the South China Sea involves multiple countries, including the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei.
In a recent move, the Philippines asked the UN commission to recognize the extension of its continental shelf beyond the 200-nautical mile limit. Despite potential overlap with previous claims, the Philippines expressed willingness to discuss boundaries with other countries. Under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, coastal states have exclusive rights to exploit resources on their continental shelf.
However, maritime observers believe China’s objection may not hold weight as all parties must agree to consider disputed claims. In the past, the commission deferred similar joint proposals due to lack of consensus. Despite this opposition, the Philippines previously expanded its continental shelf without issue in 2012.