Republic Act 9522 signed into law

The controversial Philippine baselines bill has recently been signed into law by the President. Signed was Republic Act 9522, also known as the Philippine Archipelagic Baselines Law. The law, "affirms the country's claim of its territorial waters, extended continental shelf, economic zones, and the controversial Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) and Scarborough shoal off the waters of Palawan province", states Executive Secretary Ermita.

The signing was a day before new Chinese Amabassador to the Philippines, Liu Jianchao was supposed to present his credentials to President Arroyo. China, as everyone knows, is just one of the numerous countries that claim part of the detached islands west of the Philippines known as the spratlys. Although the spratlys are not enclosed in the new Philippine baselines, it remains to be under Philippine territory by virtue of a presidential decree issued by former President Marcos, as well as the 1987 Constitution.

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