China's expansive claim in South China Sea and West Philippine Sea is "hopeless and indefensible" and without legal or historical basis, the Philippines told an international arbitration court on Wednesday. The Permanent Court of Arbitration based in The Hague continued the oral arguments on the merits of the case filed by Manila seeking clarification of its territorial entitlements in the West Philippine Sea and contesting Beijing's massive claims, which cover the coasts of smaller neighbors. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte, quoting Andrew Loewestein, one of the counsels representing the Philippines, said China's claim was "hopeless an indefensible."

Calica, A. (2015, November 27). 'China sea claim hopeless'. The Philippine Star, pp. 1, 14.