菲律宾在民主礁（黄岩岛）划设领海基线，并通过国内立法将该岛礁及南沙群岛大部分岛礁纳入菲方海洋区域[1]。中国外交部对此发表声明，表示"坚决反对、绝不接受"[1]。
中国指控菲律宾此举"严重侵犯中国领土主权，严重违反《联合国宪章》、《联合国海洋法公约》等国际法"[1]。中方重申，2016年南海仲裁案的所谓"裁决"为"非法、无效，没有拘束力"，中国"不接受、不承认该裁决"[1]。中国同时警告菲律宾"不得在黄岩岛采取任何侵权挑衅行动，否则中方都将予以坚决应对"[1]。
The Philippines has established a maritime baseline at Scarborough Shoal, known in China as Huangyan Island, prompting a firm rebuke from Beijing.[1] China's Foreign Ministry issued a statement declaring it would "resolutely oppose and absolutely not accept" this action, characterizing the move as a "serious infringement on China's territorial sovereignty and a serious violation of the UN Charter and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and other international law."[1]
The Philippine government enacted a "Maritime Zone Law" that incorporates Scarborough Shoal and most of the Nansha Islands, along with their adjacent waters, into the country's maritime zones.[1] China reiterated its position that the 2016 South China Sea arbitration ruling, which favored the Philippines and rejected China's "nine-dash line" claim, is "illegal and invalid and has no binding force," asserting that it "does not accept and does not recognize" the tribunal's decision.[1] Beijing warned the Philippines to "refrain from taking any infringing or provocative actions at Huangyan Island," stating that "China will respond resolutely to any such move."[1]