Experts issue call for Manila to negotiate

Experts in international law from around the world have urged the Philippines to return to the negotiating table with China to solve the South China Sea issue in a reasoned and peaceful manner.

They spoke after a weekend seminar found that any verdict delivered by an arbitration tribunal based in The Hague will have no legal validity because China and the Philippines have not reached any agreement to authorize it to intervene in the dispute.

The arbitral tribunal under the auspices of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague is thought to be close to issuing a ruling on arbitration launched unilaterally by Manila.