Manila eyes resources in South China Sea
Philippines must find way to explore for oil and gas in contested waters, president says
The Philippines must find a way to explore for oil and gas in the South China Sea even without a deal with China, President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr said yesterday, emphasising his country’s right to exploit energy reserves in the contested waterway.
“That’s a big thing for us, that is why we need to fight [for what is ours] and take advantage if there really is oil there,” Marcos told reporters.
Talks over joint energy exploration between Manila and Beijing in the South China Sea had been terminated, the previous government said in June, citing constitutional constraints and issues of sovereignty.
“That’s the roadblock, it is hard to see how we can resolve that. I think there might be other ways so it does not have to be G-to-G [government-togovernment],” Marcos said.
The Chinese embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Marcos’ remarks came after his foreign affairs secretary said in August Manila was open to new talks with Beijing on oil and gas exploration and that a deal with China or any other country must comply with Philippine laws.
The Philippines relies heavily on imported fuel for its energy needs, making it vulnerable to supply shocks and rising oil prices, which have helped push up inflation to a near 14-year high.
During a three-day visit last month, US Vice-President Kamala Harris affirmed American defence commitments to the Philippines and reiterated support for a 2016 arbitration ruling that invalidated Beijing’s expansive South China Sea claims.
The ruling, which China refused to recognise, states the Philippines has sovereign rights to exploit energy reserves inside its exclusive economic zone.
Marcos said yesterday “we will have something more concrete” to announce by early next year about US proposals to access Philippine military bases under the 2014 Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement.