Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. identified Beijing as the primary obstacle to establishing a code of conduct in the South China Sea, criticizing China for disregarding international rulings.

Members of Asean might have conflicting claims in the South China Sea but mutual trust exists in the bloc, Philippine defence chief Gilberto Teodoro Jnr said on Sunday, singling out Beijing as the biggest obstacle to a code of conduct in the disputed waterway. Teodoro delivered strong words for China in the final panel of the Shangri-La Dialogue security forum in Singapore, taking aim at Manila’s long-time maritime rival for disregarding an international arbitral tribunal which ruled in favour.....