JDV suggests gov't 'suspend' sovereignty in West PHL Sea

The country's special envoy for Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) suggested on Wednesday that the Philippines "suspend" its territorial claim in the West Philippine Sea and work on a joint exploration with China.

In the special report on "State of the Nation with Jessica Soho," Jose De Venecia Jr. reiterated his proposal to have a joint exploration in the West Philippine Sea to solve maritime disputes between Manila and Beijing.

"I propose that we suspend the issue of sovereignty over our territorial claims or their territorial claims, or other territorial claims in the South China Sea to avoid war, to avoid conflict, to avoid tension," De Venecia said in an interview with veteran journalist Jessica Soho.

"We could have joint exploration of the South China Sea," he added.

However, the issue on joint exploration was questioned by the Supreme Court as this could mean conceding the Philippines' territorial rights to China.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration last year declared as illegal China's claim over nearly the entire South China Sea.

President Rodrigo Duterte mentioned in his second State of the Nation Address that the maritime dispute will be tackled sooner or later. — Anna Felicia Bajo/BAP, GMA News