Malacañang assured Filipinos that the country's rights in the West Philippine Sea will be safeguarded, as Manila and Beijing began 'initial exchanges' on potential offshore oil and gas exploration.
MANILA — Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said the Marcos administration will remain sincere in discussions while cautiously protecting the nation's and every Filipino's interests.
"No (Philippine) interests will be lost, and none will be given away," she emphasized in Filipino.
The Philippines and China held the 24th Foreign Ministry Consultations and the 11th Meeting of the Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on the South China Sea on March 27 and 28 in Quanzhou City, Fujian province, China. The Department of Foreign Affairs noted talks on stable access to energy and fertilizers, potential cooperation in green and renewable energy, trade, and agriculture.
Both sides progressed on practical measures consistent with Philippine law, including coast guard communications, ocean meteorology, and initial exchanges on oil and gas cooperation.
In a Bloomberg interview, President Marcos suggested the US and Israeli war against Iran could provide an “impetus” for a deal on jointly developing resources in the West Philippine Sea. The Chinese embassy in Manila stated its “door to dialogue” remains open if the Philippines demonstrates sincerity. Marcos declared a state of national energy emergency last week.