Negotiations for a joint oil and gas exploration in the West Philippine Sea between the Philippines and China are ‘moving forward,’ President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. confirmed Friday.
During a press conference with the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines, Marcos Jr. said discussions for the Philippines and China to jointly explore gas or oil deposit in the disputed waters have been going on for many years, but the agenda has ‘gained prominence’ with the ongoing energy crisis in the Middle East crisis.
Marcos disclosed that Manila has engaged Beijing on at least two occasions this year – first in connection with the energy emergency, and more recently during his meeting with Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan last month.
He said the exploratory talks have advanced to defining terms of reference – whether the joint venture can be government-to-government or commercial joint venture.
‘We have moved forward. There were several issues from the beginning that we are slowly working through. And I can see this new possibility that there will be such joint exploration,’ Marcos said.
The President stressed that the Philippines urgently needs to diversify its oil and gas sources, noting the impact of supply disruptions and price spikes on the economy and daily lives of Filipinos.
‘I think the sense that I get is that all parties involved want it to succeed. And that’s always a very good sign,’ he added.
Asked if the negotiations will conclude before the end of his term in 2028, he replied that it is possible although he qualified: ‘I could not give you a definite time table.’
Still, constitutional hurdles remain. The 1987 Constitution bars foreign entities from directly exploiting natural resources, requiring service contracts or other arrangements that preserve Philippine sovereignty. Past attempts at joint exploration with China were shelved after legal questions on ownership and jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea.
Diplomatic relations between the Philippines and China are strained following heightened tension in the West Philippine Sea. Marcos Jr. acknowledged that there are efforts to de-escalate tensions whenever incidents arise.
‘If we are beginning to detect or to feel an increase in tensions, then we have to once again go back and talk to our friends in China and say, look, this is not headed in the right direction. Let’s find ways to bring the tension down,’ he said.
He added that such resets are ‘ongoing,’ with both sides seeking to avoid misunderstandings between vessels and personnel at sea.