China says Philippines should be like Malaysia in South China Sea dispute

The Philippines should copy Malaysia's "amicable way" of how it handles the ongoing disputes over the South China Sea, rather than resort to confrontation via "unilateral arbitration", said the Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia, Huang Huikang. While Malaysia, which counts China as its largest trading partner, has opted for quiet diplomacy, the Philippines has by contrast filed its case with the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague, questioning China’s occupation of Scarborough Shoal, which the Philippines claimed lies within its territory. The court is due to make its final decision in the next few weeks.

Manila has taken a case to an international tribunal contesting Beijing’s rival claims in the contested waters