China on Thursday accused the U.S.-allied Philippines of "political provocation" in seeking international arbitration over territorial claims in the South China Sea, according to AP. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the decision by Philippine leaders to lodge a case with a tribunal in The Hague was "irresponsible to the Filipino people and the future of the Philippines." China has refused to participate in the proceedings. A ruling is expected later this year, after the tribunal decided last October that it could hear the case. Wang blamed the Philippines for shutting the door to negotiations with China over their dispute and seeking arbitration without China's consent. He said China was prepared to negotiate "tomorrow." "We are neighbors just separated by a narrow body of water," Wang told the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank. "We want to contribute to the Philippines' economic development." Wang was in Washington this week for talks with his counterpart, Secretary of State John Kerry. Differences over the South China Sea have strained U.S.-China relations. The U.S. accuses China of militarizing a key conduit for world trade. China says Washington and its allies are responsible for raising tensions.
