TREACHEROUS WATERS

Tensions Flare Over South China Sea

Philippines accuses China of 'expansionist agenda.'

On Saturday, the Philippines accused China of going back on their pledge to resolve the countries’ territorial disputes, calling China’s refusal to halt activities in the disputed waters of the South China Sea reflective of an “expansionist agenda.” Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said that China’s refusal contradicted a multilateral conflict-resolution framework that the country had signed over ten years ago. "They should have no problem with the plan—it’s positive, it’s constructive, it’s comprehensive,” del Rosario said. “If China doesn’t accept this proposition, then they are rejecting the agreement that they had signed.” China, meanwhile, expressed earlier on Saturday that it would not welcome calls for a moratorium on the country’s actions in the disputed waters.