Ignore court ruling and we can talk, China offers Philippines

Shanghai

CHINA is ready to start negotiations with the Philippines on South China Sea-related issues if Manila ignores an arbitration ruling expected next week on their long-running territorial dispute, the official China Daily reported on Monday.

The Philippines brought the case to the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague and a ruling is expected on July 12. The case contests China's claims to the bulk of the South China Sea, a body of water through which US$5 trillion in ship-borne trade passes every year. China has said it plans to ignore the court's ruling which would represent a snub of the international legal order.