The Philippines will focus on its own interests in the South China Sea (SCS) after China rejected a Philippine government appeal that it comply with an arbitral ruling that invalidated its claim to nearly all of the disputed waterway, a Palace official said Tuesday. In a televised press briefing, Palace spokesperson Harry Roque said the Philippines will “agree to disagree” with China’s position on the 2016 arbitral ruling in favor of Manila. “We will set aside other things that we do not agree on, which includes this territorial dispute,” he said, adding, “we will focus for our own interest.”

Barcelo, V., & Ramos-Araneta, M. (2020, July 15). PH to focus on its ’own interest,’ ’agree to disagree’ on SCS issue. Manila Standard, pp. A1, A2.