Philippines 'to take South China Sea row to court'

The Philippines says it will challenge Chinese territorial claims in the South China Sea in a UN court.

Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said the decision came after Manila had exhausted "almost all political and diplomatic avenues" to resolve the maritime dispute with Beijing.

He said he hoped arbitration would help bring a "durable solution" to the row.

Tensions between the two have been high since a stand-off at the Scarborough Shoal - which both claim - last year.

China claims a U-shaped swathe of the South China Sea; its claims overlap those of several South East Asian nations.

In recent months Beijing has taken a more assertive posture on the issue, leaving ties with both the Philippines and Vietnam severely strained.

China had "interfered with the lawful exercise by the Philippines of its rights within its legitimate maritime zones", it went on.

It said the Philippines wants the tribunal to declare China's nine-dash line invalid.