MANILA, Philippines — The relationship between the Philippines and China have improved a year after the ruling of an international tribunal on the South China Sea dispute, a Malacañang official said Tuesday. On July 12, 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration issued a ruling on the Philippines' arbitration case against China's so-called nine-dash line claim in the South China Sea. China, however, had refused to honor the landmark ruling and insisted that they have indisputable sovereignty over the contested waters. Last May, the representatives from the Philippines and China conducted its inaugural meeting of their bilateral consultation mechanism to resolve the maritime dispute. Gregory Poling, director of the AMTI, said that China seems to be engaging Manila and other Southeast Asian claimants to divert international pressure from the South China Sea.

Source: Philippine Star July 11, 2017 06:41 UTC