Premier calls for joint negotiations on South China Sea as pledged

Premier Li Keqiang on Thursday criticized unilateral moves raising territorial disputes for international arbitration as a betrayal of the Southeast Asian nations' pledge to peacefully handle the South China Sea issue.

Although Li did not mention any specific country, it is believed he meant the Philippines, which stirred the regional situation earlier this year by calling for international arbitration on the South China Sea instead of peacefully negotiating with Beijing, observers said.