China  asked United States of America to respect its national interest in Asia; the  Philippines asked China to respect its sovereign territory and it's 370 Kilometers  from its coast or 200 Nautical Miles (NM) Exclusive Economic Zone as grants  from UNCLOS: US will respect china's interest. 
As published in the Business World Online Thursday, The  Philippine Government once again calls for China to respect the "territorial  sovereignty" and the exclusive economic zone after the former sent its first  patrol ship to the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), the Department of  Foreign Affairs (DFA) said in a statement on Friday.
"The Philippines strongly objects to the Chinese patrol of  Philippine maritime domain in the WPS [West Philippine Sea]," DFA Assistant  Secretary and Spokesman Raul S. Hernandez said in a text message to reporters.
"Such patrol will not validate the 9-dash lines [China's  claim] and is contrary to China's obligation under international law including  UNCLOS [United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea]," Mr. Hernandez added.
The government reacted to the reports that a patrol ship  was sent from China in the disputed areas in the West Philippines Sea.
The dispute between the Philippines and China escalated  after the Scarborough Shoal issue. Other countries such as Malaysia and Taiwan  claim ownership of parts of the disputed seas. (read further in the  Business  World Online) 
Philippines  objections to new Chinese gunboat in the Spratly
MSN News also published that the  Philippines on Friday said it "strongly  objects" to China's deployment of a new patrol vessel in the South China  Sea, where the two countries have a seething maritime territorial dispute.
Such patrols will not boost China's claim to the disputed  territory where the two countries have had a standoff since April, Department  of Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said in a statement.
"The Philippines strongly objects to the Chinese  patrol of Philippine maritime domain in the West Philippine Sea," the  statement said, using the local name for the South China Sea.
It called on China to respect the country's  "territorial sovereignty and EEZ", referring to the Philippines'  200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone.
China's official Xinhua news agency said on Thursday an  ocean-going patrol vessel equipped with a helipad would be deployed to the  South China Sea, the first of its kind in the area.
In late November, China said it had granted its border  patrol police the right to board and turn away foreign ships entering the  disputed waters, raising fears of a confrontation.
Both the Philippines and China have overlapping claims over  parts of the South China Sea, a major shipping route that is also believed to  hold vast mineral resources.
Tensions between China and the Philippines have risen in  the area since April after ships from both countries had a standoff over a rock  outcropping known as the Scarborough Shoal.
While the Philippines has withdrawn its ships, it says  China reneged on an agreement to pull out its own vessels.
China claims the shoal as well as nearly all of the South  China Sea, even waters close to the coasts of neighbouring countries. The  Philippines says the shoal is well within its EEZ. (read further in MSN  News)
Philippines  claims South China Sea islands, How Filipinos Discovered the Paradise in the Kalayaan  Group of Islands?
Filipinos have settled on Thitu Island as a means to strengthen  the country's claim on the Spratlys.
hitu Island is at the centre of one of the biggest territorial  disputes in the world.
It is part of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea,  which are believed to be sitting on billions of dollars' worth of oil and gas  reserves.
Six countries claim ownership of the tiny archipelago,  including the Philippines, which has people living on Thitu Island as a means  to strengthen its claim on the Spratlys.
Article published in Jazeera's  Jamela Alindogan reports from the Spratlys in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). 
Watch the Video of the Pagasa Island (Thitu Island) of the Paradise Kalayaan Group of Islands, Spratlys, Province of Palawan, (Old Sultanate of Sulu) Philippines.










