The revived prospect of cooperation between the Philippines and China in exploring the West Philippine Sea for oil and gas deposits has elicited varied reactions from senators. | MRamosINQ /PDI
“Why China, or why only China, when there are other neighboring countries staking [their] claim in the disputed [South China Sea]?” Poe told the Inquirer on Monday.“In pursuing the deal, the government should also consider existing jurisprudence related to maritime explorations,” she said, alluding to a Supreme Court ruling that voided a similar tripartite deal signed by the Philippines with China and Vietnam.
She also shared the concerns of Sen. Francis Tolentino, who had cautioned the DFA to be wary of resurrecting the joint oil and gas exploration deal with China due to the illegal presence of Chinese vessels within the country’s 370-kilometer exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea. He also said that it was “well within the powers and jurisdiction” of the Senate to conduct an investigation into the planned negotiations to revive the agreement.Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III backed Tolentino’s proposal to include the Senate in the discussions on the possible partnership between Manila and Beijing.
Signed in 2018, the Philippines-China memorandum of understanding failed to meet its goals within the agreed period, prompting then-President Rodrigo Duterte to terminate the deal due to sovereignty issues a few months before he left Malacañang last year.The Philippines and China had been locking horns over their overlapping claims in the disputed sea, believed to be rich in natural gas, oil reserves, and marine resources.
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