Beijing rejected the verdict and offered bilateral negotiation to Manila to settle the dispute. Senior officials of the group are working to find common view to reflect the development after the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA)'s ruling in favor of the Philippines on the territorial disputes with China on the South China Sea.Claimant states notably the Philippines and Vietnam wanted Asean to welcome the PCA verdict while others which have close connection to Beijing do not want to mention in the joint communiqué to be issued after the 49th Foreign Ministers Meeting.The Asean needed to have consistency on the issue but the problem is how to push thought without jeopardy to relation with China.The PCA ruled on July 12 that China has no historical right to claim areas in the South China Sea against the Philippines.

Source: The Nation Bangkok July 24, 2016 08:15 UTC