The Philippines has said that it will seek international arbitration to challenge Chinese territorial claims in the South China Sea to reach a “durable solution” to the dispute.
Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario Tuesday said the decision came after Manila had exhausted “almost all political and diplomatic avenues” to resolve the maritime dispute with Beijing, the Associated Press reported.
“We are all for improving our economic relations with China but it should not be at the expense of surrendering our national sovereignty,” he said.
Del Rosario told a news conference that his office had summoned the Chinese ambassador in Manila to inform her of the move.
In the note handed to the Chinese ambassador, the Philippines listed several aggressive moves it alleged were launched by China in recent years to further its South China Sea claims, which include new Chinese government rules authorizing police in the southern province of Hainan to board and seize foreign ships in the South China Sea.
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Reported by IBTimes 16 hours ago.
Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario Tuesday said the decision came after Manila had exhausted “almost all political and diplomatic avenues” to resolve the maritime dispute with Beijing, the Associated Press reported.
“We are all for improving our economic relations with China but it should not be at the expense of surrendering our national sovereignty,” he said.
Del Rosario told a news conference that his office had summoned the Chinese ambassador in Manila to inform her of the move.
In the note handed to the Chinese ambassador, the Philippines listed several aggressive moves it alleged were launched by China in recent years to further its South China Sea claims, which include new Chinese government rules authorizing police in the southern province of Hainan to board and seize foreign ships in the South China Sea.
Read More on International Business Times
Reported by IBTimes 16 hours ago.