フィリピンは１６日、南シナ海全域に対する中国の主権主張を拒否すると表明し、スカボロー礁がフィリピンの領土ではないとフィリピン人外交官がかつて認めたという中国大使館の主張に異議を唱えた。写真は２月、ティトゥ島で撮影（２０２６年 ロイター／Karen Lema）
Manila, March 16 – The Philippines on Saturday reaffirmed its rejection of China’s sweeping claims to the South China Sea, disputing assertions by the Chinese embassy that a former Philippine diplomat once acknowledged Scarborough Shoal was not Philippine territory.
A spokesperson for the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs stated at a press conference that China “must adhere to established international law procedures and peaceful mechanisms for dispute resolution, rather than unilateral pronouncements or social media posts.” The Philippines maintains, they added, “indisputable and long-standing sovereignty” over Scarborough Shoal and the islands within the Spratly Islands that are under Philippine effective control.
The Chinese embassy in Manila explained on Sunday that China does not claim sovereignty over the entirety of the South China Sea. They characterized the Philippines’ position as “unconstructive and baseless,” stating that it “intentionally distorts China’s position.”
Both the Philippines and China lay claim to Scarborough Shoal.
The current dispute stems from a weekend social media post by the Chinese embassy, which cited a former Philippine ambassador as having told a German radio station that Scarborough Shoal was not part of Philippine territory.
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The exchange highlights ongoing tensions in the South China Sea, a vital global shipping lane and a region subject to competing territorial claims. The Philippines’ firm stance underscores its commitment to defending its sovereign rights in the face of China’s increasingly assertive behavior in the area.
