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.