Manila nets only frictions with reef spat

In an apparent move to end the spat that has arisen between the Philippines and China, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said in a statement on Tuesday that Manila will seek to resolve the issue through diplomatic channels and through peaceful means.

Tensions have risen after a large fleet of Chinese fishing vessels took shelter from adverse weather around a reef in the South China Sea, with a number of high-ranking officials from Duterte's government making waves about it.

Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana called for the Chinese "maritime militia" to leave the area and the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs lodged a diplomatic protest with China, saying the vessels infringe upon Philippine sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction, despite the fact that Niu'e reef is part of China's Nansha Islands and the waters around the reef are a traditional fishing ground for Chinese fishermen.