MANILA (Updated) -- Malacanang accused China on Thursday of violating the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos) with its newly unveiled official map, which includes an expanded claim in the South China Sea or West Philippine Sea.
"To put it simply, dinrowing lang nila 'yon. Lahat naman ng drawing na 'yan ay na-supersede na ng UN Convention on the Law of the Sea," Coloma said.
The new map shows that China's territory is closer to the land mass of the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam, which are all claimants to islands and reefs in the West Philippine Sea.
He said the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has already made a statement concerning the matter.
"Nagpahiwatig na po ang ating Department of Foreign Affairs at 'yan din naman ang posisyon natin doon sa buong usapin hinggil diyan. Iyan din ang posisyon ng iba't ibang mga bansa na mayroong claims to maritime entitlements in the South China Sea or West Philippine Sea, na hindi naman puwedeng ibatay sa drawing," said Coloma.
He reiterated President Benigno Aquino III's position that the maritime dispute should be resolved peacefully.
"Kaya patuloy pa rin ang ating paghahanap ng pangmatagalang solusyon na hahantong sa kaayusan at katahimikan sa buong rehiyon," said Coloma. (SDR/Sunnex)