MANILA, Philippines - The Permanent Court of Arbitration under the United Nations has set the date for the hearing on the Philippines's claims against China in connection to the South China Sea dispute, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Wednesday.
"The oral hearing on the merits of the Philippines-China arbitration case under Annex VII of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea will be held from 24 November to 30 November 2015 at The Hague, the Netherlands," the DFA said in a statement.
Last October 30, the tribunal issued its award on jurisdiction over the said case, citing that it concerns the role of "historic rights" and source of maritime entitlements in the disputed sea.
READ: Document: Tribunal's award on jurisdiction in South China Sea case
Meanwhile, the Philippines maintained that it will pursue the case against China's excessive claims over the South China Sea.
"Arbitration, which is a universally-recognized dispute settlement mechanism in international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, is a peaceful and enduring solution to the overlapping maritime claims in the South China Sea. We are determined to pursue the arbitration case to its logical conclusion," Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Charles Jose said.
China, on the other hand, said that it is up to the Philippines to settle the dispute over the two countries.
"The person who caused the problem should solve it. We hope that the Philippines can make a more sensible choice," Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in a statement.
Wang is in the Philippines to meet with Filipino officials regarding the arrival of Chinese President Xi Jinping in the country next week for the 23rd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders' Meeting.
READ: China hopes to 'meet halfway' with Philippines on sea row | China: No plan to discuss South China Sea row during APEC