Jamaine Punzalan

Article (news)

Agence France-Presse

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17750346505181775034649720.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"></span></span></span></div><p>Filipino resident and soldiers conduct a flag raising ceremony during the visit of Philippines military chief General Gregorio Catapang Junior in Pagasa Island at the Spratly group of islands in the South China Sea, west of Palawan, on May 11, 2015. Ritchie B. Tongo, Pool/AFP/file</p><div><br/></div><p>China accused the Philippines of breaking international law and threatened &quot;measures&quot; to protect its sovereignty on Wednesday, after Manila said it would rename features of the Kalayaan Island Group in the West Philippine Sea. </p><p>Beijing claims the South China Sea in nearly its entirety, including parts of the West Philippine Sea, despite an international ruling that its assertion has no legal basis.</p><p>Under an executive order by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos on Tuesday, Manila will<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/31/131-features-of-kalayaan-island-group-to-have-local-names-2046?fbclid=IwY2xjawQ5v4RleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETEwdVFqaGZ5UzhLeGVJMjFxc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHjoz4ozKAhPrHKumMOlGpoJEf_5aTGk04WtSrSRYRgPedfSBwjOtIRpF2-Tn_aem_5yO59aQA6d0fesTELZPL4A"> rename more than 100 reefs, islands, atolls and other features </a>belonging to the Spratly archipelago, the site of repeated confrontations between Philippine and Chinese vessels.</p><p>At a press briefing on Wednesday, China&#x27;s foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said the move &quot;infringes upon China&#x27;s territorial sovereignty and violates the UN charter and relevant international laws&quot;.</p><p>&quot;China firmly opposes the Philippines undermining China&#x27;s sovereignty and rights and interests, and will take necessary measures to resolutely safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea,&quot; she said.</p><p>The Philippines and China, along with Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam, have competing claims to areas of the South China Sea, most importantly the Spratlys, which are believed to sit on vast oil and gas resources.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/30/philippines-china-open-talks-on-oil-and-gas-exploration-1034">Philippines, China open talks on oil and gas exploration</a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/31/nsc-says-china-activities-in-west-ph-sea-part-of-standard-operations-1718">&#x27;Not an escalation&#x27;: NSC says China activities in West PH Sea part of &#x27;standard operations&#x27;</a></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AlZa8jKY1_U?&amp;t=16s&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5j5xBcL_FyM?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>China accused the Philippines of breaking international law and threatened "measures" to protect its sovereignty on Wednesday, after Manila said it would rename features of the Kalayaan Island Group in Palawan.</p>

China accused the Philippines of breaking international law and threatened "measures" to protect its sovereignty on Wednesday, after Manila said it would rename features of the Kalayaan Island Group in Palawan.

China opposes Philippines renaming Kalayaan Island Group features

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China opposes Philippines renaming Kalayaan Island Group features

Agence France-Presse

Published April 01, 2026 05:14 PM PHT

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Kalayaan Island Group

West Philippine Sea

China Philippines

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