Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi to discuss exploration with PHL execs in September

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will be in Manila for talks with Philippine government officials as both sides seek to formalize a framework agreement on the two countries undertaking joint energy exploration.

In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Philippine and Chinese officials were “expected to continue discussions on oil and gas cooperation, with the view of coming up with a framework of cooperation that conforms to respective rules and regulations and international laws” during Wang’s visit from September 16 to 18.

Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano earlier said the Philippines was open to a 60-40 deal, in favor of Manila, should a joint development undertaking pushes through with China.

He previously mentioned that Reed Bank, which is within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone, could be a site for exploration.

Cayetano saod that any planned energy exploration deal with rival claimant China would comply with the Philippine Constitution and international laws.

Wang’s visit, the DFA said, was "a demonstration that our bilateral ties are becoming solid and steady as never before.”

“The Philippines and China are both committed to continue on the path of cooperation, all the while ensuring that the Filipino and the Chinese peoples will reap the dividends of our mutual efforts,” it added.

A senior Philippine diplomat told GMA News Online that there will be discussions on preparations for the upcoming visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to the country in November.

The Philippine side, according to the diplomat who asked not to be named for lack of authority to speak on the matter, will ask Chinese officials during Wang Yi’s visit to refrain from undertaking actions deemed provocative to promote "a good atmosphere" ahead of Xi's visit to the country.

Relations between the two Asian neighbors plunged to its lowest when the Philippines sought arbitration in January 2013 to invalidate China’s massive claim over the South China Sea, including areas within the waters that fall under Manila’s territory.

A few weeks into Rodrigo Duterte’s presidency, the tribunal ruled in favor of the Philippines, but China refused to honor decision.

Duterte contended that pressing China to comply with the ruling may result to an armed conflict that the Philippines will certainly lose given China's military might.

Instead, Duterte focused on normalizing ties  with China with the aim of securing more trade and infrastructure funds.

Under former President Benigno Aquino III, top Chinese officials have not paid a visit to the Philippines since the two countries’ disputes over contested South China Sea territories flared out in recent years, except for a rare meeting in Manila between Wang Yi and then Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario in 2015 and Chinese President Xi Jinping’s attendance to the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in the Philippine capital the same year.

“With continued dialogue and consultation anchored on mutual trust and respect, and the resolute pursuit of mutually beneficial practical cooperation, Philippines and China will continue to work together in managing differences and addressing issues pertaining to the West Philippine Sea/South China Sea,” the DFA statement said on Wang’s visit.

The resource-rich South China Sea, a chain of more than 100 islands, shoals, reefs and coral outcrops, straddles one of the world’s most vital sea lanes. Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan are also claimants to the South China Sea.

China has long frowned on any discussion of the disputes in multilateral arenas like the Association of South East Asian Nations, where the Philippines is a member and Beijing a dialogue partner. China demands instead for a bilateral negotiation. —NB, GMA News