Metro Manila, Philippines— The Philippines is open to talking to China about holding oil and gas exploration in the West Philippine Sea, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
“We have already indicated to China our openness to have new talks on oil and gas exploration,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said during the Commission on Appointments’ foreign affairs committee hearing on Wednesday.
Chinese minister Liu Jianchao earlier expressed hope that joint exploration talks would continue under the Marcos administration.
Manalo vowed that the country will be firm in asserting its rights over the West Philippine Sea once the negotiations push through.
“Our guiding position will be any agreement that we enter into with China, or any other country for that matter… we will not be agreeing to anything which is not in accordance with the Philippine Constitution,” the secretary stressed.
The 1987 constitution states that the Philippine Government should be fully in control of any exploration, development, and use of natural resources.
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