The Philippines is finding ways to explore for oil and gas in the South China Sea even without a deal with China, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Friday, adding that the country has the right to exploit energy reserves in the contested waterway.
“The Philippines was saying that our laws must be followed, while the Chinese were saying, ‘No, that’s ours so our laws are what we must follow,” the President said. He said talks over joint energy exploration between Manila and Beijing in the South China Sea had been terminated by the previous government in June, citing constitutional constraints and issues of sovereignty.
In November 2018, the Philippines signed a memorandum of understanding with China on joint oil and gas development in the West Philippine Sea.