Fri Nov 15 16:47:20 UTC 2024: ## Malaysia Protests Philippine Maritime Laws, Citing Territorial Encroachment
**Kuala Lumpur, November 15, 2024** – Malaysia has lodged a formal protest with the Philippines over newly enacted maritime laws, claiming they infringe upon its sovereign territory. Deputy Foreign Minister Mohamad Alamin announced the protest on Thursday, stating that the laws, which reaffirm Philippine maritime boundaries and resource rights, including in the contested South China Sea, reiterate Manila’s long-standing claim to the Malaysian state of Sabah.
The Philippine Maritime Zones Act and the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act, signed last week by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., have angered both Malaysia and China. Alamin highlighted that the laws extend Philippine claims into areas within Malaysia’s internationally recognized boundaries, established in 1979. He emphasized Malaysia’s commitment to defending its sovereignty.
The Philippines’ claim to Sabah, a region on the island of Borneo, stems from its historical connection to the Sulu Sultanate. Sabah’s incorporation into Malaysia in 1963 remains a point of contention. The new Philippine laws, which also include penalties for violations, further complicate the already tense situation in the South China Sea, a region with overlapping claims by several nations including China, Vietnam, Brunei, and Indonesia. Increased confrontations between Chinese and Philippine maritime forces in recent months have raised concerns about potential escalation, and the possibility of US involvement.
First Piper 