CHINA has told the Philippine government not to give up its claim to the disputed South China Sea but simply asked it to put some order on how to discuss that claim so the two countries could pursue a joint oil and gas exploration in the area, Malacañang said Thursday.
“They have never asked us to give up our claims. They have simply asked us to put some order in how we will discuss these claims and where we should discuss these claims,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano told reporters.
Meanwhile, more than two dozen F/A-18 Hornets roared off the deck of the USS Theodore Roosevelt in an ear-splitting display of US military might as the aircraft carrier sailed through the South China Sea.
The training exercise Tuesday came ahead of a port call in the Philippines, which along with several other nations, is embroiled in disputes with Beijing over its claim to the strategic waters.
The demonstration, during a visit by Philippine generals and journalists, was held just days after Beijing flexed its own military muscle with a huge naval drill involving its sole aircraft carrier and dozens of other vessels several hundred kilometers to the north.
“We have seen Chinese ships around us,” carrier strike group commander Rear Admiral Steve Koehler said.
“They’re one of the navies that operate in the South China Sea but I would tell you that we’ve seen nothing but professional work from the ships that we’ve encountered,” he said.
Cayetano was among the Cabinet officials who accompanied President Rodrigo Duterte who attended the three-day Boao Forum for Asia held in Hainan province in China.
On the sidelines of the Boao meeting, Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping casually agreed to continue with the discussions on joint oil and gas exploration in the disputed areas through bilateral agreements.
“So in the bilateral, we prepare what our side wants and what their side wants,” Cayetano said.
He said Duterte was banking on the words of China that it would honor its commitment not to expand its reclamation on the disputed areas.
“The Chinese have not buit and continue to commit to us that they will not build on uninhabited areas, including Scarborough,” Cayetano said. With AFP
“They have committed to us that Section 5 of Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the SCS, and we have committed not only to them but to Asean that we will not do things that will further complicate.”
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque has said it is not unusual for countries to enter into joint exploration agreements covering exclusive economic zones even if conflicting claims are involved.
Roque said the Philippines could apply the example between Vietnam and China for joint exploration and development of the Gulf of Tonkin despite their conflicting claims in the South China Sea.
Brunei and China, both claimants in the South China Sea, also have a joint venture in oil field services, Roque said.
Cayetano said “the SCS issue was more complex unlike the East China Sea where the issues were more simple because it was between China and Japan.”
Cayetano said the discussions would not be focused on the issue of sovereignty but the Philippine government would fight for our sovereignty and at the same time take care of the people.
“So the prosperity of the Filipinos coming from China is not because we gave up sovereignty but because of how we are dealing with issues of territorial claims and sovereignty. China has not asked us and I can tell you this very honestly whether close door or in open,” Cayetano said.