China holds out olive branch to Philippines over dispute
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This photo taken on May 5, 2016 shows Chinese military vessels taking part in a drill in the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea.
China says it is ready to start negotiations on its territorial dispute with the Philippines if Manila ignores a court ruling expected next week on the discord over the South China Sea.
According to Press TV, in an attempt to challenge China’s claims, the Philippines took a case to Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague and the tribunal is expected to hand down a ruling on July 12.
The official China Daily said on Monday Beijing is ready to negotiate "issues such as joint development and cooperation in scientific research if the new government (in Manila) puts the tribunal's ruling aside."
"Manila must put aside the result of the arbitration in a substantive approach," the paper quoted unnamed sources as saying.
China has rejected the arbitration, saying the court has no jurisdiction over the dispute. The country has asked the Philippines to solve the territorial issue bilaterally.
China claims sovereignty over almost all of the South China Sea, parts of which are also claimed by Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam as well as the Philippines.
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