Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 4) — Philippine and Chinese officials will meet in Beijing next month to restart negotiations on a possible joint energy exploration in the West Philippine Sea after talks were terminated by the Duterte administration.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced on Tuesday that the meeting for preparatory talks on oil and gas development will take place “sometime in May.”
This is in view of the agreement between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in January to resume such discussions at an early date, the DFA said.
“The meeting will discuss parameters and terms of reference,” it noted in a statement.
It is not yet clear who will join the discussions, but the DFA said more updates will be provided on the matter.
Manila and Beijing signed a memorandum of understanding on the joint exploration in 2018 during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
However, days before passing the baton to the Marcos leadership, the government announced ending the talks with Beijing, saying the goal of developing oil and gas resources was not achieved.
Last December, Marcos acknowledged that holding discussions on the joint venture will not be an easy process, given the two countries’ clashing claims in the West Philippine Sea.
READ: Marcos: China rejecting PH rights over West PH Sea a ‘roadblock’ in joint oil, gas exploration
Despite this, Marcos told Xi during his state visit to China in January that his administration wants to continue negotiations as these are “very important to the Philippines.” [LINK: Marcos to Chinese President: PH wants to continue talks on joint exploration in WPS]
In the same month, the Supreme Court nullified a 2005 energy exploration deal among state-owned oil companies of the Philippines, China, and Vietnam, which involved an area in the South China Sea.
The court ruled that the tripartite agreement is unconstitutional for allowing wholly-owned foreign corporations to participate in the exploration of Philippine natural resources without observing constitutional safeguards.
The DFA earlier said it will take this verdict in consideration when it resumes oil and gas exploration talks with Beijing.
