Marcos: China's claims in West Philippine Sea a 'roadblock' to joint oil exploration

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Thursday said China's territorial claims in the West Philippine Sea has been a roadblock in the joint oil and gas exploration in the resource-rich region.

The competing claims over the area by the Philippines and China have resulted in a debate on whose law should be followed in case of a joint exploration, Marcos told reporters in Quezon City.

Speaking to reporters in Quezon City, Marcos was asked about the Philippines’ possible partner in the joint oil exploration.

“Ang talagang nangyari diyan is kasi kini-claim ng China kanila ‘yun, eh atin naman talaga ‘yan, so sinasabi namin, sinasabi ng Pilipinas basta ‘yung batas kailangan masundan ‘yung sa Pinas,” he said.

“Ang sinasabi naman ng Chinese, ‘hindi amin ‘yan eh.’ Kaya kailangan masundan is Chinese… so ‘yun talaga ang roadblock doon mahirap makita kung papano natin maayos ‘yun,” Marcos added.

Marcos said the national government has to find measures for the joint oil exploration to push through.

“We’ll have to find a way kasi kailangan na natin eh… We already need… kung mahanap diyan, kailangan na talaga ng Pilipinas. ‘Yung China maliit na bagay sa kanila ‘yun eh, sa atin malaking bagay ‘yan so kailangan natin ipaglaban at mapakinabangan talaga kung meron ngang oil talaga,” Marcos said.

The Duterte administration had terminated the joint oil and gas exploration discussions with China because of legal constraints and sovereignty concerns.

In August, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said the Philippines is willing to talk to China about a joint oil and gas exploration.

Manalo ensured that the Philippines would not compromise its sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea once it enters into a possible energy exploration deal with China.

The Hague-based arbitral ruling has invalidated Beijing’s massive claims in the region in favor of the Philippines.

China has since ignored the ruling and has continued to strengthen its presence in the area. —KBK, GMA Integrated News