China's new maritime legislation that allows its coast guard to fire on foreign ships is not a threat of war or intended to target any country, the Philippine Star reported Tuesday, citing a statement from the Chinese consulate in Manila.

According to the Chinese embassy, the crafting of the law is a "normal domestic legislative activity" of Beijing. Its content "conforms to international conventions and the practices of the international community," the Inquirer quoted the statement as saying. "Enacting such a coast guard law is not unique to China, but a sovereign right to all," it said.

The statement was released days after the Philippines filed a diplomatic protest against China, saying the new law is "a verbal threat of war" to any nation that defies it.

Philippine officials have also previously asked Beijing to refrain from any use of force that could create tension and instead abide by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

China passed the law on last week authorizing its coast guard to employ "all necessary means to stop or prevent threats" from foreign vessels, including boarding and inspecting of ships and the demolition of other nations' structures built on reefs claimed by China in the South China Sea.

The consulate said China has always been committed to managing differences with other countries, the Philippines included, through consultations and dialogue and maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea.

Senator Francis Tolentino said in a privilege speech last week that the law further empowers China's coast guard to "set up temporary exclusion zones" created to stop other vessels and personnel from entering.

The Chinese embassy said the criticisms were born out of misinterpretation of the law, as it also slammed what it described as "false claims" against the country.

China's claim of 90% of the South China Sea was rejected by an international arbitration panel in 2016, but it does not acknowledge the decision.