Philippines, China to Resume Talks on Joint South China Sea Oil, Gas Exploration
(MENAFN) The Philippines and China have announced that talks on joint oil and gas exploration in the disputed South China Sea will resume in May. The two countries will discuss the parameters and terms of reference of the potential joint exploration, according to a statement from the Southeast Asian nation's Department of Foreign Affairs. The talks come after China's President Xi Jinping hosted his Philippines counterpart Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Beijing in January. The two leaders hinted at the possibility of resuming joint energy exploration in the disputed region.
During the meeting, Xi stated that China would work with the Philippines to handle maritime issues through friendly consultation, resume negotiations on oil and gas exploration, promote cooperation on oil and gas exploration in non-disputed areas, and conduct green energy cooperation on photovoltaics, wind power, and new energy vehicles. Marcos also emphasized the importance of continuing negotiations for joint exploration between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea.
However, just days after Marcos' trip to Beijing, the Philippines Supreme Court declared the country's tripartite agreement with China and Vietnam for energy exploration in the disputed South China Sea void and unconstitutional.
In 2018, the Philippines and China signed an agreement to explore oil and gas reserves in the South China Sea, an area with conflicting territorial claims by several countries, including China and the Philippines. The deal came two years after the Philippines won a case at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague that invalidated China's expansive claims over the sea. However, Manila terminated the agreement shortly before former President Rodrigo Duterte's six-year term expired in 2022.
The resumption of talks on joint oil and gas exploration between the Philippines and China highlights the ongoing dispute over the South China Sea and the competing territorial claims in the region. It also underscores the importance of diplomacy and negotiation in resolving complex geopolitical issues. As the talks resume, it remains to be seen how the two countries will navigate the tensions and reach an agreement that is acceptable to both sides.
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