The United Nations has reiterated its support for a peaceful settlement of the protracted dispute between the Philippines and China over the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Thursday. In a statement, the DFA said UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon “renewed the world body’s support for a peaceful and amicable resolution” of the territorial row between the two countries when the UN chief met with Philippine Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN Libran Cabactulan at the UN headquarters in New York on Feb. 19. During the meeting, Cabactulan reiterated to Ban the Philippines’ bid for arbitration as one such means to settle the dispute, a move that China has rejected asserting its historical ownership of territories in the contested waters.

Quismundo, T., & Aning, J. (2013, February 22). UN backs peaceful solution to sea row. Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. A7.