A Chinese coast guard vessel stays beside suspected Chinese militia ships near Thitu island, locally called Pag-asa island on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024 ahead of a Philippine military multi-service joint exercise at the disputed South China Sea, Philippines.

The Philippines recently passed two major laws— the Maritime Zones Act and the Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act—to strengthen its control and authority over its territorial waters. These new laws aim to protect the Philippines’ sovereign rights over its maritime zones,

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed two laws reaffirming the extent of his country’s maritime territories and right to resources, including in the South China Sea, where the new laws clash with Beijing’s extensive territorial claims.

China summoned the Philippines' ambassador on Friday to express its objection to two new laws in the Southeast Asian nation asserting maritime rights and sovereignty over disputed areas of the South China Sea,

Beijing has condemned two laws enacted by Manila, saying they breach Chinese rights in the Sea, while calling on the Philippines to "immediately stop any unilateral actions that could escalate disputes".

China has been ‘dragging its feet’ to hold talks over the issue, such as establishing a binding code of conduct, an analyst says.