Trillanes bares alleged draft of exploration deal with China

The office of Senator Antonio Trillanes released on Tuesday a draft of an alleged framework agreement on joint maritime oil and gas exploration between China and the Philippines.

Trillanes’ office said the “Chinese draft” came from an informant.

The document stated that the political basis for the joint maritime oil and gas exploration were the statements between the People’s Republic of China and the Philippines on October 21, 2016 and on November 16, 2017, and memorandum of understanding on energy cooperation signed by the energy departments of the two countries on May 15, 2017.

It said that the agreement to “conduct joint oil and gas exploration in relevant sea areas in the South China Sea” was in accordance with the principles of “mutual respect, fairness and mutual benefit, flexibility and pragmatism, and consensus” through equal and friendly consultation.

The draft also stated that an inter-governmental joint steering committee and inter-entrepreneurial working group would be established. The committee would be led by the ministries of foreign affairs with participation from relevant agencies including energy departments while the  working group will consist of representatives from enterprises of the two parties.

It further stated that China authorizes China National Offshore Oil Corporation as its enterprise to join the exploration while the enterprise on the part of the Philippines has yet to be named.

“The joint exploration shall be conducted by the two parties, and the outcome shall be only shared by the two parties,” according to the document.

It further said that the exploration shall not affect the respective position on sovereignty and maritime rights and interests of the two parties.

The draft said the working group would discuss the details of the exploration and the two parties’ entrepreneurs are to sign contract based on the discussion. The contract will take effect upon ratification of the committee.

Any document, information, or data concerning the joint exploration between the two parties shall be kept confidential, unless the two parties decide otherwise, the draft said.

It added that any dispute concerning the implementation or interpretation of the agreement or any other relevant disputes shall be settled through friendly consultation by the two parties.

“Without prejudice to their respective position, the two parties, shall, based on the outcome of the joint exploration, to make arrangements for relevant bilateral cooperation including joint exploitation. Any other matters shall be consulted and agreed upon by the committee as well as the working group or through diplomatic channel,” it further read.

Malacañang neither denied nor confirmed the existence of the agreement on oil exploration.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the agreement have to go through a review by the Philippines. 

“It doesn’t matter who drafted it. As far as we’re concerned, you give us a draft then we will go over it. We have to see whether this is legal or not; whether it’s beneficial to us or not,” he said. —LDF, GMA News