Palace justifies joint exploration with China

THE Philippines' possible joint exploration with China in the South China Sea is projected to be a “practical solution” to ease the escalating territorial disputes in the contested waterway, Malacañang said Thursday, March 1.

Speaking to Palace reporters, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said the government sees nothing wrong with the impending cooperation between the two nations in exploring and extracting

mineral and gas resources in the South China Sea.

Roque justified the Duterte government’s plan to enter into joint exploration with China, saying that such move is compliant with the 1987 Constitution.

“Joint exploration is exactly what is its. It is a practical solution for the Filipinos to utilize natural resources without having to deal with the contentious conflicting claims to territories,” the Palace official said.

“The existing jurisprudence is yes, we can enter into joint exploration and joint exploitation with foreign entities, provided that it complies with the Constitution, among others, it be pursuant to a written agreement signed by the President and submitted to Congress,” he added.

In a speech delivered in Marawi City on Wednesday, February 28, President Rodrigo Duterte described as “co-ownership” the potential joint exploration deal with China.

On February 16, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said the Philippines is holding talks with China to jointly pursue a gas and oil exploration in the South China Sea.

This developed as Duterte has sought to maintain a “non-adversarial” approach in resolving the maritime dispute as he seeks to mend ties with China.

Roque explained that the “co-ownership” termed by Duterte simply meant as “the kind of relationship” both countries will have when they begin the joint exploration.

“As far as I know, what he (Duterte) meant [in co-ownership between the Philippines and China] was that’s exactly the kind of relationship that we will have in a joint exploration and exploitation,” he said.

“But it can’t be co-ownership in the sense that ownership is not material to the exclusive economic zone; It’s only sovereign rights. There’s no ownership in sovereign rights. It’s the exclusive right to explore and exploit natural resources, the right to conduct scientific research and the right to build artificial islands,”he added.

Asked then what will be the limitations on the possible joint exploration arrangement, Roque said he could not yet speculate because it is not yet a “done deal.”

“On our part, there are political considerations. On the part of China, there’s also a consideration that they are not used to entering into joint agreements.,” he said.

“So let’s not speculate what will happen. I think that’s a decision that it will be to the best of our international interest to benefit from the resources in the disputed area. But there’s no meeting of the minds, as of yet.” (Ruth Abbey Gita/SunStar Philippines)