Philippine President Benigno Aquino Jr. has said that China must be pressured to adhere to certain rules even as it continues to build military and other facilities on disputed waters in the South China Sea. 

Aquino made the statement last week Friday after leading inaugural ceremonies for a coal-fired power plant in Davao City, in the southern Philippines.

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"Hopefully, there will be more appeals, a bit of pressure on China, if we could all possibly sit down and come up with a binding code of conduct," Aquino said. 

The Philippine government has denounced China's test flights and the landing of aircrafts on Spratly Islands last week. Critics warn that if Chinese military presence in the contested territories remains unchallenged, China's next step would be to impose an air defense zone over the entire area.

Philippine foreign affairs secretary Albert del Rosario has told the press that the Philippine government anticipates more Chinese flights over the area despite angry protests from rival claimants. 

"We believe that the other concern we have is that if this is to happen and if this is not challenged, we'll have a situation where China will take the position that an air defense identification zone (AIDZ) could be established, whether this is done on a de facto basis or whether it is official," del Rosario said.  "Of course this would be deemed as unacceptable to us."  

The Philippines has filed a case against China's seizure of disputed reefs and atolls in the South China Sea at the international tribunal at The Hague, and is currently taking steps to engage both Beijing and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the establishment of a code of conduct in the disputed territories. 

"Now can arbitration [by The Hague] be ignored?" said Aquino.  "You must remember that all countries with claims to these waters seemed to be saying, 'We want to adhere to international law,' and this is in conformity with international law."

China has said that it will not acknowledge the authority of the permanent court of arbitration (PCA) in The Hague on the issue. Beijing has defiantly resisted attempts by third parties to resolve the dispute, and instead advocates direct talks.

Aquino said the goodwill of its neighbors is just as important to China's economic expansion as the smooth flow of international commerce.

"We are hoping that our Chinese brothers will also be pragmatic," Aquino said.  "They can see the benefits of having clear entitlements and obligations for everyone."

TagsBenigno Aquino III