Philippines raises UN issue amidst territorial disagreement with China over claimed rights.
The Philippine administration ignites a debate with China over sovereign rights in the South China Sea, submitting a claim to the UN for exclusive access rights to specific regions of waters adjacent to Palawan Island in the western Philippines.
"Today we safeguard our future by asserting our exclusive rights to the exploration and extraction of natural resources within our claimed territory," stated Marshall Louis Alferez, deputy secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs for maritime and oceanic affairs.
China lays claim to almost the entire South China Sea, encompassing areas also coveted as sovereign territory by the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam. The Permanent Court of Arbitration at the UN determined in 2016 that China's claims hold no legal merit.
The Chinese government has failed to recognize this ruling. Ongoing friction between China and the Philippines has led to a string of incidents stemming from previous disputes.
