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Philippines
Thursday, March 28, 2024

Joint exploration with China

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FOREIGN Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. said Friday the Philippines was ready to negotiate with China on the joint exploration of oil and fishery resources in the South China Sea after the arbitration court decides on the case Manila has brought against Beijing on July 12.

He said the idea was discussed by President Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jinhua during the envoy’s courtesy call on Thursday.

“If the Chinese, in respecting the decision of the arbitral tribunal, would like to negotiate within the context of that [decision] along with the other claimants… by all means let’s pursue that,” Yasay said.

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Briefing. Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay gestures during an interview in Manila on July 8, 2016. The Philippines is willing to share natural resources with Beijing in the contested South China Sea areas even if it wins a legal challenge next week, Yasay told AFP on July 8.  AFP

He made his statement even as Beijing will not take a “single step back” in the contested South China Sea, state-run media said Friday, despite reports of US naval patrols close to its artificial islands ahead of a tribunal ruling in the dispute.

Beijing asserts sovereignty over almost all of the strategically vital waters in the face of rival claims from Southeast Asian neighbors, and has rapidly turned reefs into artificial islands capable of hosting military planes.

It is currently holding a week of military drills around the Paracel Islands in the northern part of the sea, during which other ships have been prohibited from entering the waters.

Aside from the joint exploration, Yasay also said that Zhao made a commitment that his government would not do any untoward action that might undermine Beijing and Manila’s diplomatic relationship.

China would also not do any action that might undermine the Philippine interest, particularly Manila’s claim to the West Philippine Sea.

“We summarily spoke about the strengthening of our friendship,” Yasay said citing Xhao’s courtesy call to Duterte. 

“We have expressed the hope and commitment from both sides notwithstanding the arbitral tribunal or the case we have filed before it or the impending decision on July 12, our friendship will remain.”

The Philippines and China have an ongoing dispute over parts of the South China Sea along with other claimants like Vietnam, Brunei and Malaysia.

That dispute made the Philippines bring its case before the Arbitral Tribunal to prevent China from claiming the whole South China Sea.

On July 12, the judges of the Arbitral Tribunal will release their decision on the case. with AFP

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