Philippines Open to New Oil Exploration Talks with China

Enrico Dela Cruz
Wednesday, August 31, 2022

The Philippines is open to new talks with China on oil and gas exploration, the Southeast Asian country's foreign minister said on Wednesday.

A deal with China or any other country on joint oil and gas exploration, however, should comply with Philippine laws, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, said during a congressional hearing on his department's 2023 budget.

Talks over joint energy exploration between Manila and Beijing in the South China Sea had been terminated, Manalo's predecessor said in June, citing constitutional constraints and issues of sovereignty. 

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, who took power in June, said last month he would try to "find ways to work to resolve the conflicts that we have" with China, so ties could normalize after years of maritime disputes.

Manalo told lawmakers that future activities related to oil and gas cooperation in the South China Sea "will be anchored on the Philippine constitution and with the national interest as the primordial consideration."

China's embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Manalo's remarks.

A 2016 international arbitration ruling made clear the Philippines had sovereign rights to exploit energy reserves inside its 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone. But China, which claims about 90% of the South China Sea as its territory, has refused to recognize that decision.

(Reuters - Reporting by Enrico Dela Cruz/Editing by Bernadette Baum)

Categories: Drilling Activity Asia South China Sea

Related Stories

China's Sinopec Laucnhes $690M Hydrogen Venture Capital Funds

CIP, ACEN Partner Up for First Large-Scale Offshore Wind Farm in Philippines

Keyfield Ventures into Indonesia’s Oil and Gas Market with New Partner

Turkey Discovers New Black Sea Gas Reserve

Indonesia Grants Approval to Kuwaiti Firm for Anambas Block in Natuna Sea

TMC Books Compressors Orders for FPSO and LNG Vessels

Chuditch Gas Field Up for Summer Drilling Ops as Sunda Reshapes Ownership Structure

Hanwha Ocean Marks Entry into Deepwater Drilling Market with First Drillship

Valeura Wraps Up Infill Drilling Campaign in Gulf of Thailand

Initial Drilling Results Raise Questions on South Korea’s Offshore Gas Viability

Current News

OMV Exits Ghasha Gas Project off UAE with Lukoil Stake Sale

China's Sinopec Laucnhes $690M Hydrogen Venture Capital Funds

CIP, ACEN Partner Up for First Large-Scale Offshore Wind Farm in Philippines

Valeura Concludes Eight-Well Drilling Campaign in Gulf of Thailand

Three Dead in Chevron's Angolan Oil Patform Fire

BW Opal FPSO Vessel set for Work off Australia

Keyfield Ventures into Indonesia’s Oil and Gas Market with New Partner

Fire Contained at Vietnamese Oil Platform Undergoing Decommissioning (Video)

Velesto’s Jack-Up Rig Set for Drilling Job off Indonesia

Petronas, Inpex Secure Oil and Gas Exploration Rights off Indonesia

Subscribe for AOG Digital E‑News

AOG Digital E-News is the subsea industry's largest circulation and most authoritative ENews Service, delivered to your Email three times per week

https://accounts.newwavemedia.com