THE Philippines and China have agreed to continue with the discussions on joint oil and gas exploration in the disputed areas of the South China Sea, after President Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping brought up the issue on the sidelines of the Boao Forum in Hainan Province, China, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said Wednesday.
“There was a more or less a mention that joint development of offshore oil development must continue,” Roque said.
However, no further details on the nature of the agreed cooperation were given.
The two countries have long been embroiled in a bitter dispute over the waterway, with China claiming nearly the entire sea, but Duterte softened his predecessors’ policy of opposing Beijing’s claims.
Talks on the possible joint oil and gas exploration may be given priority once President Xi visits the Philippines in November this year, the Palace official said.
The last time Xi visited Manila was in 2015 when the Philippines hosted the Apec summit.
However, Malacañang said it would still consult legal experts to make sure any accord would not infringe Philippine sovereign rights.
The President’s willingness to cooperate with China was in contrast with the previous stance of former President Benigno Aquino III who accused Beijing of encroaching, occupying, and building structures on reefs and rocks that the Philippines claims as part of its exclusive economic zone.
The international arbitration tribunal ruled in 2016 invalidating Beijing’s claims on the entire South China Sea, but when Duterte assumed the presidency, he set aside the ruling while courting investments and trade from the world’s second-largest economy.
Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam also claim all or part of the sea, and proposed cooperation between Manila and Beijing has caused alarm among neighboring Southeast Asian countries in the past.
On Thursday, Duterte arrived in Hong Kong and vowed to improve the lives of Filipinos, mostly domestic help, who worked there.
The President, accompanied by his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sarah Duterte Carpio, will meet with Filipino workers in Hong Kong to listen to their grievances and to see their conditions.
They were welcomed by Philippine Consul General in Hong Kong Antonio Morales and Deputy Consul General Roderico Atienza.
Upon his arrival in the former British colony, Duterte assured Filipino workers there that his administration is doing its best to ensure that every Filipino will have a comfortable life.
“As I am here for you, so am I also here for those who have left the country to support and provide a better future for their families,” he said.
Data from the Philippine Embassy in Hong Kong shows there are an estimated 220,000 Filipinos in the region, many of them working in the hotel and restaurant industry or in the households of Hong Kong residents.
The President said he will instruct Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III to look into some abuses committed by Hong Kong employers and to go after illegal recruiters.
Many Filipino workers in Hong Kong were victims of fraudulent loans and harassment by unscrupulous recruitment and lending agencies.
The President will also look into reports of alleged inhuman sleeping quarters or accommodations for domestic helpers and address any inadequacies.
Meanwhile, the President reiterated his gratitude to China for the assistance given not only in resolving the Marawi siege but also the rebuilding of the war-torn city.
“It spelled the difference between victory and defeat, at least on a shorter term, that we are able to put down the terroristic activities that have perpetuated in Marawi,” Duterte said, noting that it was a Chinese rifle that killed Isnilon Hapilon, the number one terrorist in the Marawi siege.
Also, during the meeting, Duterte also expressed delight on President Xi’s reelection as President of the People’s Republic of China.
Duterte assured Xi of the Philippines “fullest cooperation” in combating transnational crimes and terrorism.
“We welcome China’s hosting of the 6th Annual Defense and Security Talks to discuss better cooperation,” Duterte said.
The President noted, howeve,r that the two countries “can do more” to boost military and defense cooperation under the framework of the 2004 Memorandum of Understanding on Defense Cooperation.
“I’d like to say it in a very short way—we are with you in this,” Duterte said.
Before leaving for Hong Kong aboard a chartered Philippine Airlines, Duterte and Xi witnessed the signing of six bilateral agreements between the Philippines and China.
The first was the Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Government of the People’s Republic of China.
The Chinese president also offered P3.8 billion in assistance to promote economic development in the Philippines.
“There was an agreement to further cooperation on terrorism and drugs. There was also another 500 million RMB or P3.8 billion in further economic assistance to be given by China to the Philippines,” Roque said.
He said the two countries have agreed to sign a memorandum of understanding on the Belt and Road initiative, China’s initiative aimed at expanding trade and transportation links across Asia, Europe and Africa.
It was signed by Department of Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III and Chinese Ministry of Commerce Minister Zhong Shan.
The second to be signed was the Exchange of Letters on the Phase III of the Technical Cooperation Project for the Filipino-Sino Center for Agricultural Technology, also signed by Dominguez and Commerce Minister Zhong Shan.
The third agreement was the Exchange of Letters for the Pre-Feasibility Study of the Proposed Davao City Expressway Project, which was signed by Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar and Chinese Ministry of Commerce Minister Zhong Shan.
The fourth to be signed was the Exchange Letter for Broadcasting Equipment to the Presidential Communications Operations Office of the Philippines, signed by PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar and Chinese Ministry of Commerce Minister Zhong Shan.
The fifth was the Memorandum of Understanding on the Employment of Filipino Teachers of English Language in China, which was signed by Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello III and Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua.
The last agreement was the Preferential Buyer’s Credit Loan Agreement on the Chico River Pump Irrigation Project, which was signed by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III and Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua.
