(BGF) –  In a news conference, Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario told that the Philippines submitted documents, consist of nearly 4,000 pages of analysis and documentary evidence, to the tribunal in The Hague against China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea, ignoring the China’s warning that the case will damage the bilateral relations. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong lei also said China will “never accept nor participate in the international arbitration pushed by the Philippines”, Teresa for the Associated Press reported.

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Philippines files evidence against China’s claims

March 30, 2014 | By Teresa Cerojano

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The Philippines presented evidence to an international tribunal against China’s sweeping territorial claims in the South China Sea, ignoring Beijing’s warning that the case will damage ties.

Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario told a news conference Sunday that the documents submitted electronically to the tribunal in The Hague consist of nearly 4,000 pages of analysis and documentary evidence.

Filipino officials took their territorial disputes with China to international arbitration in January 2013, after Chinese government ships took control of a disputed shoal off the northwestern Philippines. They asked the tribunal to declare China’s claims to about 80 percent of the strategic waters and Beijing’s seizure of eight South China Sea shoals and reefs illegal.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said last week that China will never accept nor participate in the international arbitration pushed by the Philippines. He called on the Philippines “to stop going any further down the wrong track so as to avoid further damage to bilateral relations.”

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