President Rodrigo Duterte has asserted the international court’s 2016 arbitral ruling favoring the Philippines against China’s massive claims in the disputed West Philippine Sea (WPS) during his meeting with Chinese ambassador Huang Xilian, Malacañang said Thursday. The presidential assertion came as Armed Forces of the Philippines chief-of-staff, Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, ordered the deployment of additional Philippine Navy ships to bolster the conduct of maritime sovereignty patrols in the West Philippine Sea. The National Task Force on the WPS earlier raised the alarm about a Philippine Coast Guard report that around 220 Chinese fishing vessels, believed to be manned by Chinese maritime militia personnel, were sighted in line formation at the Julian Felipe Reef on March 7.

Barcelo, V. (2021, March 26). Duterte to China envoy: Arbitral ruling stands in PH favor. Manila Standard, pp. A1, A2.