link to article:https://www.voanews.com/a/china-summons-philippine-ambassador-over-new-maritime-laws/7856351.html
The recent development in the South China Sea reflects the ongoing tensions between China and the Philippines over territorial claims and maritime rights. On Friday China summoned the Philippine ambassador to express strong disapproval after President Ferdinand Marcos jr signed two key pieces of legislation. The Maritime Zone Act and the Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act. Which asserts the Philippines’ sovereignty and maritime rights over disputed areas in the South China Sea. The laws define the Philippines’ territorial waters and maritime entitlement including areas claimed by China. Like Scarborough shoal and the Spratly islands. This is causing tensions to rise because China is calling these laws an illegal expansion of Philippine territory and a violation of their sovereignty.
China is one of the global superpowers that doesn’t like to be told what to do. So for the Philippines to make laws like the Maritime Zone Act that says which area belongs to the Philippines. Some of these parts already being claimed by China have made tensions rise. The Philippines are saying that China has to listen because of the international court ruling in 2016 which sided with the Philippines and said China’s claims were illegal. China is much more powerful than the Philippines, they need to listen to something they say. However, the United States being allies with the Philippines makes it a very tough decision for China going forward.
The waning of war is growing in these countries. China could easily take the Philippines if the United States didn’t have any affiliation. So the chances of war is down because of what the United States gain from the small piece of territory. China is also scared of the United States because of all the bases we have on the islands that would be quick to conflict. We also are a huge trading partner with China making the waning of war in effect.