China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the Philippines' case against China at an arbitration tribunal over rival claims in the South China Sea had strained relations between Beijing and Manila, and that it was up to the Philippines to improve ties. The arbitration case against China "is a knot that has impeded the improvement and development of Sino-Philippine relations", a statement on the foreign ministry's website cited Wang as saying in Manila. Beijing claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, dismissing claims to parts of it from Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei. For years, China has insisted that disputes with rival claimants to the South China Sea be handled bilaterally.

It's up to PH to heal rift over South China Sea - China. (2015, November 12) Panay News, p. 6.