Beijing has condemned two laws enacted by Manila, saying they breach Chinese rights in the South China Sea, while calling on the Philippines to "immediately stop any unilateral actions that could escalate disputes".

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr on Friday enacted the Maritime Zones Act and the Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act, asserting his country's sea boundaries and rights to maritime resources.

He called them "significant laws that emphasise the importance of our maritime and archipelagic identity", according to a statement from the presidential communications office.

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Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr (centre) during the ceremonial signing of the Maritime Zones Act and Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act, at the presidential palace in Manila on Friday. 

Beijing had summoned the Philippine ambassador to "lodge stern representations" over the matter, the Chinese foreign ministry said during Friday afternoon's press briefing.

In a statement issued hours later, the foreign affairs committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, said the Maritime Zones Act "disregards China's strong opposition and stern representations", and "seriously infringes China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights in the South China Sea".

The NPC "strongly condemns and firmly opposes this", the statement said.

It alleged that the act "unlawfully includes China's Huangyan Island and most islands, reefs and related waters of the Nansha Islands within the Philippine maritime zones," referring to the contested Scarborough Shoal and Spratly Islands, respectively.

The statement also called the move an attempt by Manila to legitimise the "illegal ruling" of the South China Sea arbitration case through domestic legislation.

A tense stand-off in 2012 over Scarborough Shoal, which Manila claims as Panatag Shoal, led the Philippines to take its case to an international tribunal at The Hague, which ruled in its favour in 2016. But Beijing refused to participate in the proceedings and has never accepted the decision.

"We urge the Philippines to immediately stop any unilateral actions that could escalate disputes or complicate the situation in the South China Sea, and immediately halt any wrongful actions that deliberately undermine the broader China-Philippines relationship and peace and stability in the South China Sea," the NPC committee statement on Friday said.

The Chinese foreign ministry also issued a statement on Friday condemning Manila, asserting that Beijing's sovereignty and maritime rights in the South China Sea would "not be affected at all" by the Maritime Zones Act, while warning of "resolute" action if these were breached.

Beijing claims most of the resource-rich, busy South China Sea under what it calls its historic "nine dash-line". The 2016 tribunal ruling said there was no legal basis for China's expansive claims but Beijing denounced the verdict as illegitimate.

Frequent clashes between Chinese and Philippine vessels in recent months have sent tensions soaring in the region, with Manila alleging aggressive tactics, including ramming and the use of water cannons and lasers, causing vessel damage and injuries to personnel.

According to Philippine media, the Maritime Zones Act aims to declare the rights and entitlements of the Philippines to establish legal bases for social, economic, commercial, and other activities in the areas.

The Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act, on the other hand, designates the sea and air routes through which foreign vessels and aircraft shall exercise the right of passage, and aims to prevent arbitrary international passage in the Philippine archipelago.

At stake in the region are not only undersea oil and other natural resources, but also fishing rights and possible military outposts.

"With these pieces of legislation, we align our domestic laws with international law, specifically the UN [United Nations] Convention on the Law of the Sea or UNCLOS," Marcos said after signing the two acts into law in Manila.

"Our people, especially our fisherfolk, should be able to pursue their livelihood free from uncertainty and harassment. We must be able to harness mineral and energy resources in our seabed."

The arbitration tribunal that ruled in 2016 was set up under the UNCLOS, signed by both China and the Philippines.

The Chinese foreign ministry statement said the arbitration ruling was "illegal and invalid", and that "China neither accepts nor recognises it, and opposes and rejects any claims or actions based on this ruling".

"Should the Philippines take any infringing or provocative actions in the South China Sea based on this law [the Maritime Zones Act], China will respond resolutely," it warned.

Several aspects of the Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act failed to comply with international law and maritime resolutions, the ministry alleged, without offering details.

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