While it welcomes the statements of support from other nations against China’s excessive claims in the South China Sea and the West Philippine Sea (WPS), the Philippine government insisted to continue efforts to achieve a non-violent resolution to issues regarding the contested waterway. “Consistent with Philippine national policy, we shall continue to seek all avenues to achieve peaceful and friendly management of all standing maritime disputes,” Department of National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said in a statement late Monday night, 12 July, the fifth anniversary of the country’s arbitral win handed down by the Permanent Court of Arbitration. Lorenzana’s pronouncement came after several western nations, led by the United States, sent congratulatory messages and expressed support to the Philippines. They also called on Beijing to recognize the ruling as it “has no lawful claim to the area determined by the Arbitral Tribunal to be part of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and continental shelf”.

Maralit, K. (2021, July 14). Lorenzana: Non-violent WPS resolution. Daily Tribune, pp. A1, A2.