Philippines says China has no right to object or interfere with its ‘lawful’ activities in South China Sea

MANILA (Reuters) -The Philippine Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that China has no right to object to or interfere with the Philippines’ lawful and routine activities in the South China Sea.

The ministry said it also “rejects and refutes” recent statements of the spokesperson of the Chinese embassy in Manila that Beijing has indisputable sovereignty over the Spratly islands.

(Reporting by Karen Lema; Editing by Martin Petty)