From the AP: The Philippines summons the Chinese Ambassador Ma Keqing to notify her that after failing to peacefully resolve China’s claims on all of the South China Sea, it will seek to have China’s expansionist moves declared “illegal and invalid” by an international tribunal.

China has had a stand-off with the Philippines over the Scarborough Shoal.

Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said his country is seeking a “durable solution” to the dispute and had “exhausted almost all political and diplomatic avenues for a peaceful negotiated settlement.” This move comes independent of the Philippines security agreement with the US.

The key line: “We are all for improving our economic relations with China but it should not be at the expense of surrendering our national sovereignty,” said del Rosario.