A party-list lawmaker on Tuesday urged the government to file a diplomatic protest against China over Chinese ships spotted near Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea. At the same time, Magdalo Party-List Rep. Gary Alejano said the Philippines must call on China to order their ships away from the disputed waters. Aquino brought China before an international arbitration tribunal over its claims to 80 percent of one of the world’s most strategic waterways, and won. He also strengthened the Philippine alliance with the US to try to check China’s expansion in the South China Sea, where it has built a series of artificial reefs, creating a platform to assert its claims.

Cruz, M. V. (2017, August 16). Sino ships seen in WPS: despite Beijing's assurance no new expansion in disputed waters. Manila Standard, pp. A1, A2.