ASEANEWS HEADLINE- WORLD OIL CRISIS | Manila: Philippines, China reopen oil exploration talks

The subject was raised at the just-concluded Bilateral Consultative Mechanism (BCM) on South China Sea meeting in Fujian, China, on March 28.

In a statement late Saturday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said both sides took note of the progress made in other possible areas of cooperation to “increase confidence in the maritime domain,” including communication between their coast guards and ocean meteorology.

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The two sides had “frank and thorough exchange of views” on the situation in the South China Sea, where Manila “firmly reiterated” its posit ion and raised concerns over China’s actions that have “disrupted lawful activities and posed risks at sea,” the DFA said.

“The Philippines emphasized the need for diplomacy and communication for managing differences at sea, and upholding international law, particularly the 1982 Unclos (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) and the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award,” it said.

The BCM was held back-to-back with the 24th Foreign Ministry Consultations (FMC), and both were led by Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Leo Herrera-Lim and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong.

At the FMC, Manila said it would handle all bilateral issues in line with the Philippine national interest, “while advancing mutually beneficial cooperation, especially in the economic and people-to-people areas.”

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The two sides brought up the need to stabilize access to energy and fertilizers, as well as potential cooperation in green and renewable energy, trade and agriculture, against the backdrop of current global developments, including the Middle East crisis.

The DFA said it was agreed that the reconvening of appropriate bilateral mechanisms was a necessary step in reopening negotiations.

ing the tourist traffic between the two countries through visa-free arrangements, enhanced connectivity, and prospective new direct air routes.

Manila emphasized that it would play a “responsible and professional role” as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) this year, especially on managing regional talks, upholding Asean centrality, and reinforcing a rules-based order.

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The DFA said the Philippines and China would convene a bilateral foreign ministers’ meeting “within the year” following these latest talks.

A geopolitical analyst on Sunday said renewed discussions between the Philippines and China on possible joint oil and gas exploration in the South China Sea come at a critical time, as global supply uncertainties mount due to tensions in the Middle East.

In an interview with The Manila Times, Herman Tiu Laurel, president of the Manila-based think tank Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute (ACPSSI), said the reopening of talks was “very late in the day,” driven by what he described as a potentially severe oil and gas supply crisis linked to the conflict pitting the United States and Israel against Iran.

Tiu Laurel said China was concerned about the Philippines’ consistency in previous agreements, citing what he described as policy reversals and “flip-flopping” since initial engagements in 2013.

He also pointed to the Philippines’ termination in 2022 of a joint exploration agreement reached in 2018 between Xi Jinping and Rodrigo Duterte.

According to Tiu Laurel, former Foreign Affairs secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. announced the unilateral termination of the agreement during the transition from the Duterte administration to that of Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Tiu Laurel said Duterte had opposed the move and warned that abandoning the agreement could lead to tensions.

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.He added that the current administration should provide assurances of “sincerity” if it intends to pursue joint development with China.

He also questioned whether Manila’s renewed engagement would be sustained, noting uncertainties over how external geopolitical pressures, particularly from the US, might influence policy direction.