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China raises concerns over the Philippines’ new local names for features in the KIG

Article by Marie D.

Published on April 23, 2026 1:27AM


China has strongly objected to the Philippines’ decision to assign standardized local names to more than 100 geographical features in the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG), also known as Spratly Islands, within the West Philippine Sea (WPS), reiterating its sovereignty claims and warning it will take steps to defend them. Beijing described the move as an attempt to “illegally delineate” the KIG beyond Manila’s territorial scope and insisted that the features are part of what China calls “Nansha Qundao.” ¹ ² ³


In a press briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Beijing “firmly opposes” any action it believes undermines China’s sovereignty, maritime rights, and interests in the South China Sea. ¹ ² ⁴ Mao accused the Philippines of “illegally delineating” the KIG, arguing that the features are integral parts of China’s Nansha Qundao and that Manila has no authority to unilaterally define or rename them. ¹ ² ³


“The so‑called ‘naming’ of relevant islands and reefs in China’s Nansha Qundao… violates China’s territorial sovereignty and goes against the [United Nations] Charter and relevant international laws,” Mao said, according to an official transcript cited by Philippine media. ¹ ³ She added that China “will do what is necessary to firmly defend its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea,” a statement that analysts interpret as a signal of possible diplomatic and operational pushback. ¹ ² ⁴


China’s reaction followed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s issuance of Executive Order No. 111, which directs that all 131 features of the Kalayaan Island Group, part of the Kalayaan municipality in Palawan, be assigned standardized Filipino names in government documents and official maps. ⁵ ⁶ ⁷ The National Maritime Council (NMC), under Executive Order No. 57, recommended the standardization to improve administration of the area and reinforce the country’s sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea. ⁴ ⁶ ⁷


The Palace said the move aims “to ensure efficient administration and governance of the area and to exercise the country’s sovereignty in the WPS,” underscoring that the new names are meant to reflect the Philippines’ maritime jurisdiction rather than create new territorial claims. ⁴ ⁶ ⁷ Still, Manila’s naming initiative has drawn ire in Beijing, which sees it as a symbolic, if not legal, assertion of authority over features it considers part of "Nansha Qundao". ¹ ² ³

China claims “indisputable sovereignty” over Spratly Islands and its adjacent waters, a position it has maintained in official statements and its broader South China Sea policy. ³ ⁴ The Philippines, for its part, bases its claims on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 arbitral award that invalidated the legal basis of China’s expansive “nine‑dash line,” even as Beijing refuses to recognize the ruling. ¹ ² ⁸


The naming dispute now sits at the intersection of cartography, domestic law, and geopolitics. ¹ ² ³ Analysts in Manila warn that Beijing’s strong language may foreshadow more assertive maritime behavior or diplomatic démarches, while also noting that Manila’s push to Philippine‑ize KIG features reflects a broader effort to normalize its governance and sovereignty presence in the West Philippine Sea. ¹ ² ⁴


As both sides dig in, experts say the episode illustrates how seemingly technical acts, such as assigning place names, can quickly escalate into sovereignty‑centered standoffs in one of the world’s most contested maritime spaces. ¹ ² ³


_______________________________________________ Notes:



³ China firmly opposes Philippines 'renaming' Nansha Qundao island ... https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202604/1358044.shtml



⁵ Marcos orders use of local names for Kalayaan Island Group features https://www.inquirer.net/471620/marcos-orders-use-of-local-names-for-kalayaan-island-group-features/


⁶ Marcos orders use of local names for 131 Kalayaan Island features ... https://mb.com.ph/2026/03/31/marcos-orders-use-of-local-names-for-131-kalayaan-island-features-in-wps-palawan


⁷ LIST: Filipino names of 131 features in Kalayaan Island Group in WPS https://www.inquirer.net/471790/list-filipino-names-of-131-features-in-kalayaan-island-group-in-wps/


⁸ Palace: No PH interest will be lost in possible joint oil exploration ... https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/981936/philippine-interests-exploration-china/story/


⁹ PH naming of Kalayaan Island Group features in WPS draws China ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIbXlF3Vgeg



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