The Philippines submitted its memorial on th West Philippine Sea to the United Nations (UN) Arbitral Tribunal on 30 March 2014.

The memorial presents the Philippines' case on the jurisdiction of the Arbitral Tribunal and the merits of its claim over the West Philippine Sea. It consists of ten volumes and contains 4,000 pages, including forty maps.

The memorial was also submitted to the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) which has been designated by the Arbitral Tribunal to act as the registry.

In a news conference last Sunday, Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said that "with firm conviction, the ultimate purpose of the memorial is our national interest. It is about defending what is legitimately ours. It is about securing our children's future. It is about guaranteeing freedom of navigation for all nations. It is about helping to preserve regional peace, security, and stability. And finally, it is about seeking not just any kind of resolution but a just and durable solution based on international law."

Under the rules of procedure, the Arbitral Tribunal will decide the next steps and advise the parties accordingly.