China’s Foreign Ministry said last Friday the United States was trying to influence a South China Sea arbitration case filed by the Philippines after a senior US official said China would be obligated to abide by the tribunal’s decision. While China questions the move of the US, the commander of the US Pacific Command (US PACOM) said Beijing’s assertiveness in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) is an issue that the United States must address. Admiral Harry B. Harris Jr., commander of the US PACOM, said China “is building false sovereignty” by building man-made islands on top of coral reefs, rocks, and shoals in the disputed sea near the Philippines.

Aben, E. L. (2015, July 26). US, China trade accusations over disputed South China Sea. Manila Bulletin, pp. 1, 22.