The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday said that it remained “positive” that the Philippines and China will move forward with their bilateral economic relations despite the arbitration case filed before the United Nations (UN) for the settlement of their disputes in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).
The Philippines on Friday reiterated its calls for respect to its maritime domains in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), saying that it “strongly objects” to Chinese patrol of these areas.
The Philippine’s defense chief says the government has signed separate contracts worth 163 billion pesos (about $39 million) with Italian and South Korean companies to supply helicopters and trucks as part of efforts to modernize its poorly equipped military.
It started like many other minor confrontations over the specks of isles dotting some of the world’s busiest shipping lanes. But the risks in the latest flare-up over a South China Sea shoal are much bigger than the territory itself.
A lawmaker on Wednesday urged the government to send a high level contingent to China to iron out issues on the ownership of Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal.
