China has been relying on an “imagined historical claim” over the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said on Sunday, as he also stepped up his rhetoric against Beijing. This was after Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang insisted last week that the Spratly group of islands (Kalayaan Island Group) was Chinese territory “legally and historically.” “Despite the pronouncement of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, we stand on solid grounds on our claims in the Spratlys and the West Philippine Sea,” Lorenzana said in a text message.

Reyes, D. & Villanueva, R. U. (2019, April 15). Lorenzana also changes tune, hits China's Spratlys claim. The Manila Times, pp. A1, A2.