Manila, Feb. 17 -- Philippine and Chinese officials argued over their claims in the South China Sea during a roundtable discussion at the 61st Munich Security Conference in Germany on Sunday.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said the Philippines is steadfast in defending the rules-based international order and the rule of law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Manalo noted that following international law "will be the best way to reduce tensions."
"Whenever the Philippines undertakes any kind of activity within our exclusive economic zone (EEZ), as defined by UNCLOS, we feel we are within our rights. But when another country, let's say, applies its own domestic laws to certain areas within...