Palace: Philippines to follow UN timetable on arbitration case vs China

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang said Tuesday that the country will follow the timetable set by the United Nations (UN) arbitral tribunal handling its case against China despite the Asian giant's relentless reclamation work on disputed territories.

"Having filed our case before the arbitral tribunal, we abide by the rules and regulations that are provided and specified under those rules," Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a press briefing.

"Having submitted to the jurisdiction of the arbitral tribunal, we will follow their timetable," he added.

Lacierda, however, refused to comment when asked if the national government would push for the fast-tracking of the arbitration proceedings.

According to reports, the Armed Forces of the Philippines called on the UN earlier today to expedite the arbitration proceedings amid China's continuing reclamation efforts in several areas inside Manila's exclusive economic zone.

The Department of Foreign Affairs had said that China is trying to alter the maritime features in the West Philippine Sea to affect the case filed by Manila against its sweeping nine-dash line claim.

Maintaining that it has "indisputable sovereignty" over the entire South China Sea, Beijing has refused to participate in the arbitration proceedings initiated by Manila.

The island nation, on the other hand, is still hoping for a favorable ruling on the maritime case.

"Certainly, we would hope for a resolution of the case and a resolution in our favor as we believe that we have a strong case against China in their nine-dash line theory," Lacierda said.

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