US Secretary of StateJohn Kerry expressed support to the Philippines' resolve to settle conflicting claims with China in the West Philippine Sea through the rule of law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Kerry made this clear during a telephone call to Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario. "I discussed with Secretary Kerry our initiative of bringing the West Philippine Sea issue to arbitration under UNCLOS", revealed del Rosario.

Julian, S. (2013, February 22). US backs Philippine move to settle sea row thru UNCLOS. Panay News, p. 15.