PH, China agree to resume oil, gas exploration talks in West PH Sea

Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (left) and Chinese President Xi Jinping | REUTERS file photo

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines and China have agreed to resume oil and gas exploration discussions in the West Philippine Sea.

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who went on a state visit to China until January 5.

“On oil and gas cooperation, both sides agreed to bear in mind the spirit of the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation on Oil and Gas Development between the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines signed in 2018, and agreed to resume discussions on oil and gas development at an early date, building upon the outcomes of the previous talks, with a view to benefiting the two countries and their peoples,” says the joint statement of the Philippines and China.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) released the statement to the media on Thursday.

Last year, the planned joint oil and gas exploration negotiations in the West Philippine Sea between the Philippines and China was terminated upon the order of then President Rodrigo Duterte.

READ: PH ends talks for joint oil, gas search with China in WPS

Former DFA Secretary Teodoro Locsin said negotiations lasted for three years, but they “had not achieved our objective of developing oil and gas resources so critical for the Philippines.”

The Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled that the Philippines has exclusive sovereign rights over the West Philippine Sea in the South China Sea. The historic decision also invalidated China’s nine-dash line claim in the South China Sea.

READ: PH wins arbitration case over South China Sea

KGA