Full coverage: The South China Sea Issue

A Filipino columnist has said the United States should reimburse the Philippines for legal fees and expenses incurred in filing the South China Sea arbitration case against China.

Rigoberto Tiglao, a columnist for The Manila Times, said he was informed that the country spent around U.S.$30 million for fees and expenses of international lawyers and their staff who prepared the case against China.

The Philippine government has yet to comment.