Beijing is moving toward "de facto control" of the South China Sea, the Philippines warned on Sunday as it called on fellow Southeast Asian countries to stand up to their massive neighbor. China's unabated reclamation in the Philippine-claimed territory in the South China Sea, if not stopped, will irreparably alter the status quo and render moot diplomatic initiatives in the region Foreign Secretary Alber del Rosario warned his peers at a regional meeting in the Malaysian capital. Manila has a pending case against China with the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea IITLOS), where China has refused to participate.

Araneta, S. (2015, April 27). Asean urged: Stand up to China. Manila Standard, p. A2.