The Philippines and China have agreed to hold the next round of dialogue to manage the dispute in the South China Sea (SCS) and explore areas of cooperation in the second half of the year. The bilateral consultation mechanism (BCM) demonstrates the improved ties between the two countries a year after a United Nations-backed arbitral tribunal ruled in favor of the Philippines’ maritime arbitration case, according to Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella. In July 2016, the PCA in The Hague ruled over the South China Sea disputes in favor of the Philippines. The arbitration court ruled that China has no historical rights to the resource-rich waters but Beijing refuses to recognize the decision.

Kabiling, G., & Mabasa, R. (2017, July 12). PH, China to tackle sea row. Manila Bulletin, pp. 1, 5.