Full coverage: South China Sea Is Indisputable Part of China

The new president of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, has held his first official cabinet meeting since taking office. Ministers discussed the arbitration case over disputed territory with China in the South China Sea. Duterte issued instructions to his cabinet not to 'flaunt' the verdict if the arbitration court in the Hague decides in the Philippines favour.

The new Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Perfecto Yasay Jr said the first priority will be to study the ruling's implications once it is issued. Duterte said on Monday he would not comment on the arbitration until after the court had made its ruling on July 12th. He also said he is ready to talk with the Chinese government regardless of the outcome of the arbitration. His predecessor, Benigno Aquino III, filed the arbitration against China in 2013. It came despite an agreement between the countries to resolve their disputes through bilateral negotiations.

China has refused to participate in the proceedings and declared that it will not recognize the verdict.