Beijing: The Philippines' recent legislative actions concerning the contested South China Sea have been criticized by China as an infringement on its territorial sovereignty. According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the newly enacted Philippine Maritime Zones Act, signed into law by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., is seen as an illegal attempt to enforce an arbitral award that China has consistently rejected. According to Anadolu Agency, the law aims to incorporate areas such as China's Huangyan Dao and the majority of the islands and reefs of China's Nansha Qundao into the Philippines' maritime zones. A spokesperson from the Chinese Foreign Ministry stated that this legislation severely undermines China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights in the South China Sea. The spokesperson reiterated China's firm opposition to the laws and emphasized China's determination to protect its territorial claims and maritime interests. China maintains that Huangyan Dao has always been part of its territory under international law. The Chinese government views the release of baselines and base points of the territorial sea near Huangyan Dao as a rightful measure to enhance marine management, consistent with international norms. The Philippines, on the other hand, argues that the laws are designed to reinforce its rights and duties within what it calls the West Philippine Sea. In response to the legislation, China's Foreign Ministry summoned the Filipino ambassador to register strong objections to the Philippine Maritime Zones Act and the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act. The ongoing dispute reflects the overlapping territorial claims between the two nations in the rich waters of the South China Sea, a region over which China asserts extensive control.