A local business group composed of Filipino-Chinese businessmen on Wednesday sought a peaceful, wise and diplomatic solution to the still scorching sea lanes issue that puts a wedge on the Philippines-China relations. The statement came days after Beijing belittled Manila’s landmark victory in the South China Sea, calling it “nothing more than a piece of waste paper”. China’s mocking of The Hague Tribunal was made on the fifth anniversary of the decision. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian called the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling by the United Nations-backed court in The Hague as “illegal, null and void,” as “the South China Sea arbitration violated the principle of state consent and the arbitral tribunal exercised its jurisdiction ultra vires and rendered an award in disregard of the law”.

Ayeng, R., & Guillang, M. (2021, July 15). Biz group: 'Keep China as a friend'. Daily Tribune, p. A6.