Regional alarm is growing as China aggressively stakes its claim to most of the sea, including a large-scale island-building program. The United States has also urged China and other nations to halt reclamation. Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma said Manila had been seeking more global attention on the issue after President Aquino raised it on numerous overseas visits. John Kirton, director of think tank the G7 Research Group, has said maritime disputes between China and its neighbors would be on the agenda of the summit starting Sunday in Germany.

Romero, A., & Mendez, C. (2015, June 8). G7 to address West Philippine Sea dispute. Philippine Star, p. 5.