China urges Philippines to jointly explore for natural gas, offshore oil

According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry statement, the Chinese leader stressed that the two countries should resolve their maritime disputes through consultations and work together as forces contributing to stability in the region, without using the term “Sea of South China”. “.

Noting that the two countries should support each other through good-neighborly relations, Xi said, “China is willing to continue talks on joint exploration of oil and gas and develop joint projects in undisputed regions.” saying.

The two countries were reported to have signed cooperation agreements in the areas of infrastructure, finance and e-commerce during the Philippine leader’s meetings in Beijing.

Marcos visited China for the first time since he took office in June. The leaders of the two countries met face to face on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Organization (APEC) Summit held in Bangkok, Thailand in November 2022.

The conflict between the two countries’ sovereignty over islands and reefs in the South China Sea has long hampered the development of bilateral relations. Although the issues of the conflict were not mentioned in the statement made after the visit, commentators assess that Beijing wants to de-escalate its relations with the Philippines, which is drawing ever closer to the United States in the field of security due to disputes. of sovereignty.

SOUTH CHINA SEA DISPUTE

China claims sovereignty over 80 percent of the South China Sea with a map called the “Nine Line Line,” first published in 1947. Claims in the region, which is rich in undersea resources, lead to sovereignty conflicts with neighboring coastal countries such as Vietnam, Brunei and Malaysia, especially the Philippines.

Beijing’s arming of the artificial islands it has built in the disputed region by establishing military bases also creates tensions with the US and countries in the region.

Known as “Paracel” and “Spratly” in the international community, the archipelago is called “Hoang Sa” and “Truong Sa” by Vietnam, and “Shisha” and “Nansha” by China.

The United Nations Permanent Court of International Arbitration in The Hague, in its decision on the Philippines’ application in 2016, decided that China’s unilateral claims to sovereignty in the South China Sea were not legal. (AA)