Eighty-four per cent of Filipinos want the Philippine government to assert sovereignty over areas it has claimed in the South China Sea, a private survey group said.

Eighty-four per cent of 1,200 respondents said the government should uphold the decision of The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) last July that China’s entire claim of the South China Sea and its enhancement of rocks and shoals into artificial islands there were illegal, public opinion polling body Pulse Asia said.

The PCA also ruled last July that China should allow fishermen from other claimant countries in the South China Sea to fish in the Scarborough Shoal — 124 kilometres west of Zambales Provinces in central Luzon — which Beijing overtook following a standoff with Philippine vessels, in 2012.

The Philippine government elevated its complaint against China before PCA in 2013.

The survey was conducted between December 6 and 11, but Pulse Asia released it only on Friday

Eighty-four per cent of Filipinos want the Philippine government to assert sovereignty over areas it has claimed in the South China Sea, a private survey group said.

Eighty-four per cent of 1,200 respondents said the government should uphold the decision of The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) last July that China’s entire claim of the South China Sea and its enhancement of rocks and shoals into artificial islands there were illegal, public opinion polling body Pulse Asia said.

The PCA also ruled last July that China should allow fishermen from other claimant countries in the South China Sea to fish in the Scarborough Shoal — 124 kilometres west of Zambales Provinces in central Luzon — which Beijing overtook following a standoff with Philippine vessels, in 2012.

The Philippine government elevated its complaint against China before PCA in 2013.

The survey was conducted between December 6 and 11, but Pulse Asia released it only on Friday

source : gulfnews