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MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines is on "the right track" in seeking UN arbitration to resolve its territorial dispute with China in the West Philippine Sea, Malacañang said on Wednesday, February 20.

Cabinet Secretary Rene Almendras, the chief aide of President Benigno Aquino III, explained the government expected China to ignore the plan to bring the matter up at the United Nations and stressed the case could still proceed without Beijing' approval.

"We will follow the process whether they agree to it or not," Alemndras told reporters.

"Of course, we are of the opinion that we are on the right track... we would not have started it if we did not think that we would have enough basis to file all these issuances," he added.

China on Tuesday officially rejected the Notification and Statement of Claim presented by the Philippines on January 22.

Beijing accused Manila of compiling a "factually flawed and false" claim and announced it has sufficient historical and jurisprudential evidence to support its sovereignty over the whole South China Sea.

Newsbreak/Rappler.com
20 February 2013