Countries must abide by their obligations under international law, which generally prohibits the use of force, Malacañang said on Monday after China last week adopted a law that would allow its coast guard to fire on foreign vessels. The Philippines is also hopeful that no country will make a move that will heighten tensions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), according to presidential spokesperson Harry Roque. He said that while a sovereign country has the power to approve laws to cover its territory, these have to conform with its obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, of which China is a signatory.

Salaverria, L. B., Gascon, M., & Santos, T. G. (2021, January 26). Palace hope China won't use force in WPS. Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. A4.