People’s Daily joins Beijing blitz against Philippines over 2016 South China Sea ruling

China’s flagship Communist Party newspaper has joined a sweeping rhetorical offensive against rival maritime claimant the Philippines, days ahead of the 10th anniversary of a South China Sea arbitration ruling rejected by Beijing as “illegal”. In twin commentaries published on Friday, the People’s Daily branded the July 12 decision of 2016 a “destabilising force” and demanded that Manila pivot to direct talks. The commentaries from official media cap a multi-agency initiative from Beijing in...