In a statement, the DFA said the Philippines and China will meet in Beijing sometime in May to discuss the parameters and terms of reference of the agreement.
The agency said the upcoming meeting came in the light of the joint statement issued by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Chinese President Xi Jinping during the latter’s state visit in Beijing in January “to resume discussions on oil and gas development at an early date.”
Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo assured that Senator Francis Tolentino, who expressed hesitancy of having talks with China, will be updated on the matter.
On April 2, Tolentino urged the DFA to carefully study the government’s plan to have another round of exploratory talks with China regarding the matter with high consideration to the 2016 Hague Arbitral ruling that invalidated China’s “nine-dash line” claim in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).
Tolentino also took note of the recent Supreme Court (SC) decision that invalidated and declared unconstitutional the 2005 Tripartite Agreement for Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking (JMSU) before entering into a partnership with the “Asian Superpower.”
He said any new agreement between the Philippines and China should comply with the provisions enshrined under the 1987 Constitution before planning to undertake in exploring mineral seabed resources within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ), which was also mentioned in the 2016 Arbitral Ruling.
“Baka lalong dumami (‘yung mga barko ng China sa WPS) kasi sasabihin nilang mayroon kaming karapatan ngayon na mag-drill, mag-conduct ng scientific marine research — eh baka iyon ang gawin, kaya siguro doon ang dapat ay mag-dahan-dahan ang ating Department of Foreign Affairs… baka lalong lumawig pa, maabuso, at lalo pong dumami yung kanilang presensya doon,” Tolentino said, as he noted the “bullying” incidents involving the China Coast Guard and Chinese Maritime Militia against the Philippine troops.
The Philippines and China inked a memorandum of understanding in November 2018 for the establishment of an intergovernmental joint steering committee to look into possible energy cooperation.
The Duterte administration ordered, however, the termination of the discussions with China in 2022 on the basis of constitutional constraints and issues on sovereignty. (SunStar Philippines)