The Department of Foreign Affairs said the bilateral relationship between the Philippines and China will not be affected despite the Supreme Court’s decision declaring as unconstitutional a tripartite 2005 joint oil exploration pact of the two countries with Vietnam in the South China Sea.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo stressed that oil and gas is only “basically one aspect” of the Philippines’ relationship with China even as he admitted the DFA will have to “see how this pans out”
Manalo said the DFA has not yet received an official communication from the Supreme Court regarding its decision to nullify the oil exploration pact.
“So we will have to see how this pans out with respect to oil and gas development,” he said in an interview with CNBC.
“I think this is an issue which has been there for some time. In fact, when the President visited China last week, there was a general understanding that we would resume talks on oil and gas development. But of course, there were no details.”
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said the government must “tread carefully” in these exploration talks with China because it might also be declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
“There are questions there. One question: Are we now barred from doing joint exploration with other claimant countries such as China and Vietnam under this ruling?” Zubiri said.
Although he cautioned the government on the negotiations with China regarding the joint oil and gas exploration, Zubiri expressed confidence that Mr. Marcos will be advised well on its legality, as former Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin serves as his Executive Secretary.
On the other hand, Zubiri urged the government to study possible explorations in other areas such as the Sulu Sea and Benham Rise.
“We are talking about oil exploration… We are an archipelago. I do not believe there is no oil in the Sulu Sea, between Mindanao and Palawan,” he said.
“We have other opportunities. I do not know why we are always concentrating on the West Philippine Sea, and South China Sea area. We can continue to explore down south,” he added.
Sen. Francis Tolentino also said he agrees that Philippine laws will have to apply in areas “where we have jurisdiction pursuant to existing laws and UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Laws of the Sea).”
Zubiri said the country had to make a stand like Vietnam to show that the Philippines is not “backing down” on its claims over the WPS.
“Neighbors should treat each other with respect. I think what had happened in recent months is not a sign of respect, and I hope the President’s visit to China will encourage them to show respect to their neighboring countries like the Philippines and stop bullying us when it comes to our fisherfolk, when it comes to our Navy personnel when it comes to supplying Pag-Asa Island,” he said.
Mr. Marcos earlier said he and Chinese President Xi Jinping have agreed to find a compromise and find measures that will be beneficial to Filipino fishermen.
The Chief Executive said he expects lessened tensions and incidents of harassment in the WPS after he proposed the strengthening of a bilateral team that would discuss issues in the resource-rich region during his meeting with the Chinese leader.
Mr. Marcos said there were existing bilateral mechanisms that discuss issues between the two countries and said it would be best if members of the bilateral teams on the waterway issue had direct access to the heads of state.
For Zubiri, this is a “good first step” and suggested that both governments’ Navy chiefs and Foreign Affairs ministers have a “direct line” for proper communications.
This is “so it does not escalate into a shooting incident. That is… elevation of hostilities in the area. We have to de-escalate but definitely, we have to push our right on the West Philippine Sea and let our fishermen fish in our exclusive economic zone,” he said.
The Senate leader disclosed that some of the senators are planning to beef up the funds for the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources next year to build medium-sized fishing boats so they can fish “safely and freely” within our territories.