THE Philippine government has filed a diplomatic protest against China for militarizing the disputed West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), Malacañang said on Thursday. Roque said the protest covered all incidents previously mentioned by Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano. China claims most of the resources-rich sea through which $5 trillion in shipping trade passes annually, and in recent years has reclaimed reefs and shoals including some claimed by Manila. On Wednesday, eight senators from both the majority and minority blocs signed Senate Resolution 761, urging the DFA to file diplomatic protest against China for its recent militarization efforts in the West Philippine Sea. The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague also junked China’s “nine-dash-line” map covering practically the entire South China Sea.

Source: Manila Times May 31, 2018 16:53 UTC