China warns Philippines vs renaming of South China Sea reefs

MANILA, Philippines — China expressed sharp disapproval of the Philippines' decision to assign local names to more than 100 maritime features in the Kalayaan Island Group, claiming the move is illegal and warning it would take steps to defend its claims.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Beijing "firmly opposes" any action it believes undermines China's sovereignty, rights and interests in the South China Sea.

She also accused the Philippines of illegally delineating the Kalayaan Island Group and assigning names to features that China considers part of its claimed "Nansha Qundao."

"China will do what is necessary to firmly defend it’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea," the Chinese official said at a press conference on Thursday, April 1, as quoted in an official transcription. 

The remarks followed an executive order signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. directing the adoption of Philippine names for more than 100 reefs, islands, cays and shoals in the Kalayaan Island Group.

Philippine officials said the measure aims to standardize geographic names for official use, strengthen governance and administration, and reinforce the country's sovereign rights.

The directive, based on a recommendation from the National Maritime Council, requires government agencies to use the names in official maps, documents and communications.

Chinese state media gave prominent coverage to the development.

China Daily reported that Beijing would take "necessary measures" to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights, while the Global Times said China "firmly opposes" the move and urged the Philippines to refrain from what it described as opportunistic actions.

Expanding dispute

The Kalayaan Island Group is part of the Spratly Islands, a resource-rich and contested area in the South China Sea.

While tensions between the Philippines and China have typically centered on patrols, resupply missions and access to disputed features, the latest dispute points to a shift toward administrative measures such as naming and mapping.

The Philippines already achieved a legal victory in 2016 in its arbitration case against China's sweeping maritime claims over the strategic waterway at a United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea tribunal.

Marcos' move came after the two countries said they were willing to reopen negotiations on joint oil exploration in the South China Sea.