Malacañang on Wednesday maintained that the Philippines will pursue a “peaceful and diplomatic” approach to resolve its long-standing dispute with China in the hotly-contested South China Sea (West Philippine Sea). “We are looking at peaceful and diplomatic means to resolve the issues surrounding the West Philippine Sea,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a press statement. Roque issued the statement, in response to a poll by the Social Weather Stations (SWS), which found that majority of Filipinos want the Philippines to assert its rights in the South China Sea.

PH eyes diplomatic means to resolve sea disputes. (2020, July 16). SunStar Davao, p. 3.