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Tuesday, January 3, 2017
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MANILA – The Philippine government is “seriously studying” the possibility of conducting joint exploration of natural resources with China in the West Philippine Sea, ambassador to China Jose Santiago “Chito” Sta. Romana has said.
Romana was quoted saying that the Department of Energy and Department of Foreign Affairs have already been tasked to study the prospect of jointly exploring with Beijing the disputed waters.
Sta. Romana said the government needed to know what natural resources could be extracted from the West Philippine Sea, especially with the chance that the energy supply from the Malampaya gas fields would start to decline in 10 years.
The West Philippine Sea refers to portions of the South China Sea that are claimed by the Philippines as part of its territory and exclusive economic zone.
China is claiming almost the entire South China Sea despite a recent arbitration ruling that invalidated its historical claims.
Sta. Romana said that any joint exploration agreement with China had to be in accordance with the Constitution.
Aside from being constitutional, University of the Philippines Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea director Jay Batongbacal said the terms of any joint exploration agreement between the two countries should be transparent.
The Philippine government must also ensure the deal will not be misconstrued as an acknowledgement of China’s sweeping claims over the entirety of West Philippine Sea.
Political analyst and De La Salle University professor Richard Heydarian said the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea must form part of the legal basis for any joint exploration agreement the Philippine government will enter into with China.
Heydarian said the government must not allow China to dictate the terms of the joint exploration in the West Philippine Sea.
President Rodrigo Duterte has expressed openness to sharing the natural gas resources in the West Philippine Sea with China although Malacañang has clarified there is no official policy yet on the possible joint exploration with Beijing. (GMA News)
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