Department of Foreign Affairs chief Albert del Rosario has told the Philippines' future military top brass to "stand up to protect what is ours" amid a territorial dispute with China.

He told Philippine Military Academy cadets last Friday that the country includes parts of the Spratly island chain in the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea), as well as the Scarborough Shoal off the main Philippine island of Luzon, an Agence France-Presse report said.

China claims the Spratlys and the shoal as well as nearly all of the South China Sea, including waters close to the shores of its neighbors, the report said.

"We have a clear mandate from our president. What is ours is ours and we should stand up to protect what is ours," the the AFP quoted Del Rosario as saying.

"Live up to your living commitment of courage, integrity and loyalty. By doing so, rather than being forced to accept that might is right, we will instead demonstrate that right is might," Del Rosario said in a speech before the Philippine Military Academy cadets.

The school, in the northern city of Baguio, produces most of the country's military officers.

Del Rosario recounted how the country's Navy and Coast Guard got embroiled in a stand-off in April with Chinese patrol vessels that prevented the arrest of Chinese poachers at the Scarborough Shoal.

Philippine officials say the area is part of the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Del Rosario told the cadets China still has three ships around the shoal.

Meanwhile, President Benigno Aquino III renewed his calls at the ASEAN summit in Cambodia last weekend for China to withdraw the vessels.

The Philippines pulled its last vessels out of the area in June, but Aquino said China failed to reciprocate the gesture.

On the other hand, Del Rosario said that "the territorial issues cannot be solved overnight. However, if the Chinese ships were to be pulled out, this could create the impetus for a way forward."

“All parties should respect the EEZ of all coastal states irrespective of their size or naval power, in conformity and in accordance with UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea),” Del Rosario said, quoting Aquino’s statement during the recent ASEAN summit.

Del Rosario earlier said the Philippines wants a peaceful resolution to the dispute using the UNCLOS as basis.

Both China and the Philippines are signatories to the UNCLOS, which defines the limits of the territorial seas of nations and the areas in which they could exploit marine resources.

China and the Philippines, along with Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam, have overlapping claims in the Spratly Islands, which lie close to major shipping lanes and are believed to be rich in mineral and oil resources.

The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei will hold a meeting on December 12 “to discuss viable options to move the issue forward” and find a “peaceful resolution” to the unresolved territorial row, Del Rosario said in a separate report.

Meanwhile, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the Philippines will make necessary representations to protect its territories.

Lacierda on Sunday said the Foreign Affairs department has already issued a note verbale against China for its move to include disputed territories in its new map printed on passports.

Despite the disagreements, Lacierda said the Philippines will continue to seek a peaceful resolution to the dispute, the report said. — AFP, with a report by Carmela G. Lapeña /LBG, GMA News