1.   In ruling as he did, White indicated he was concerned that some of the other claimants might try to profit from the tombstones.

2.   The other claimants reportedly have put in calls to Alan Dershowitz.

3.   China, the biggest claimant country, has approved a mutual plan to carry out certain development projects in various areas agreed by the six claimants.

4.   China, which claims all of the islands, wants separate bilateral settlements with the other claimants.

5.   Even if China refuses to attend, the other claimants should still convene the meeting, he added.

6.   He asserted that there is no tension in the South China Sea, despite the dispute, and that the issue is between China and the other claimants.

7.   He said the Chinese were not willing to discuss the situation, and instead had resorted to threatening the other claimants militarily.

8.   In addition to China and the Philippines, the other claimants are Taiwan, Malaysia, Brunei and Vietnam.

9.   If China refuses to attend, the other claimants should go on with the meeting without it, he added.

10.   It is not clear how many soldiers the various claimants maintain in the islands, but China is emerging with the strongest navy of the six.