Beijing has voiced firm opposition to Manila's plan to rename more than 100 maritime features in the Nansha Qundao on April 2, vowing to defend its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights, Global Times reports. The Chinese Foreign Ministry responded to reports that the Philippines intends to adopt local names for the features to reinforce its claims in the South China Sea.

By formalising local names in official maps and education, Manila is attempting to shift the status quo through administrative fiat, a move Beijing views as a direct challenge to its established sovereignty.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a regular press conference on April 2 that China has indisputable sovereignty over Nansha Qundao and its adjacent waters. Mao stated that the Philippine delineation of the so-called "Kalayaan Island Group" (KIG) violates international law and the UN Charter.

Beijing previously refuted these claims in a 2016 white paper, arguing that the KIG designation was an attempt to dismember Chinese territory through artificial geographical concepts.

The renaming move follows an order from Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr on March 26. The Philippines' National Maritime Council claimed standardising names is essential for effective administration and to strengthen "sovereign rights." However, Chen Xiangmiao from the National Institute for South China Sea Studies told Global Times on April 2 that the unilateral naming is a rhetorical ploy with no substantive international significance. He noted that even the US does not use Manila’s terminology, such as the "West Philippine Sea."

Manila's directive extends to the education sector, with official maps and textbooks set to be updated. Analysts suggest this aims to embed South China Sea claims into the national consciousness of young Filipinos, potentially deepening the rift between the two nations. This escalation occurs despite recent signals of a "reset" in relations, including talks regarding joint oil projects and fertiliser cooperation.

While the two countries held their 24th Foreign Ministry Consultations in Quanzhou on March 28—the first in three years—Beijing remains critical of Manila’s "provocative acts." The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theatre Command and coast guard issued four statements in March alone regarding maritime friction. Experts noted that the Marcos administration stands at a crossroads, needing to choose between genuine de-escalation and a policy of duplicity that pairs provocation with calls for cooperation.