Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 5) — LawLawmakers are wary on the planned resumption of talks between the Philippines and China for the joint exploration for oil and gas in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), as they ask the Asian neighbor to show sincerity first in resolving the existing maritime dispute.
In a media interview Thursday, Sen. JV Ejercito said the deal should not put Manila at a disadvantage and Beijing must “show sincerity first and regain our trust.”
“Ako personally I find it very hard to trust the Chinese government,” Ejercito said. “Hindi naman ako galit sa mga Tsino, it’s just the government that’s very difficult to trust kasi parang hindi sila nagsasabi ng totoo e.”
[Translation: I’m not angry at Chinese nationals, it’s just their government that’s very difficult to trust because they seem dishonest.]
Ejercito said it’s hard to take China’s word, since it has not shown respect for the Philippines’ sovereignty and territorial integrity despite claiming to be an ally.
He recalled China’s incursions in the WPS, including the November 2022 incident where a Chinese Coast Guard vessel forcefully seized suspected rocket debris retrieved by Philippine Navy personnel who were onboard a rubber boat.
Enraged over footage of the maritime incident, senators unanimously approved in December a resolution denouncing China’s “illegal and brazen incursions and encroachments.”
READ: Senate denounces Chinese ‘bullying’ in West PH Sea
In a separate statement on Thursday, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III stressed the need for full transparency from both sides once negotiations for oil exploration push through.
“Transparency is crucial for these talks to prosper, most especially when it involves our rights over some parts of the West Philippine Sea,” Pimentel said.
“It is key to gain the support and confidence of the Filipino people and erase any doubts that the government is compromising and giving up our rights over the West Philippine Sea,” Pimentel said.
Sen. Loren Legarda said while dialogue and friendly relations are welcome news, talks with China “must be premised on” the arbitral ruling recognizing Manila’s sovereign rights to areas in the WPS that Beijing contests.
She said there should be protection for Filipino fisherfolk and compensation for any possible damage to marine resources.
“We must also check to see all the alternatives, other potential partnerships,” Legarda said.
RELATED: Marcos: Xi promises to find ‘compromise’ that will allow Filipinos to fish in WPS
For Cagayan de Oro 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, he said the Philippines could immediately allow joint exploration in areas near Palawan, like Recto Bank, “provided that China respects our territorial rights there.”
He also urged the East Asian giant to withdraw all its ships from the WPS to “show its good faith.”
“President Xi Jinping should recall all those ships, whether military, Coast Guard, militia, or civilian so our Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard can freely conduct patrols and our fisherfolk can do fishing activities without fear of harassment,” Rodriguez said in a statement.
During his state visit to China, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday told Chinese leader Xi Jinping that the Philippines wants to resume talks on the joint oil and gas exploration in the WPS.
The talks were terminated last June by the Duterte administration after the objective of developing oil and gas resources was “not achieved.”
According to a joint statement, Marcos and Xi had a “candid” and “in-depth” discussion on the maritime row, with both leaders agreeing that differences should be resolved through peaceful means.
CNN Philippines digital producer Jelo Ritzhie Mantaring contributed to this report.
A recent survey showed most Filipinos want the government to work with the United States in defending the WPS.
House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro said the poll results should be taken seriously by the Marcos administration.
“Take this serious, serious information from our citizens,” the lawmaker told CNN Philippines’ The Final Word.
For Castro, it is non-negotiable that China should follow the arbitral ruling. She also said the administration is just repeating the strategies of its predecessor.
READ: Duterte: We have no quarrel with China
