The Department of Foreign Affairs received from Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Ma Keqing a Note Verbale stating that China rejects and returns the Philippines' Notification and Statement of Claim. The Department stresses that China's action will not interfere with the process of Arbitration initiated by the Philippines on January 22, 2013. The Arbitration will proceed under Annex VII of UNCLOS and the five-member arbitration panel will be formed with or without China.

Arbitration case before UNCLOS. (2013, February 22). Panay News, p. 14.