The Philippine government should keep on raising with China the issue of the 2016 arbitral award that nullified Beijing's overreaching claims on the West Philippine Sea, former Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said on Saturday. " The arbitral tribunal outcome is now an integral part of international law. This should have been the setting between the two presidents in Beijing," Del Rosario said in a statement in reaction to Malacañang's statement that President Duterte will not raise the issue of the arbitral award again after his Chinese counterpart reaffirmed Beijing's position not to recognize the rulling.

Aning, J., Ramos, M., Ramos, M., & Gascon, M. (2019, September 1). EX-DFA Chief calls for next strategy to press Beijing on sea row. Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. A2.