Palace on joint exploration with China: How can we be at a disadvantage?

August 11, 2019

Malacacanang assured on Sunday that the government's plan to conduct a joint exploration with China in the West Philippine Sea would be to the country's advantage.

In an interview by Radyo Inquirer, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo noted that it was even Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua who mentioned that China would not ask for a larger share.

Saying that the sharing agreement would be 60:40 in favor of the Philippines, he said, "how can we be at a disadvantage?"

"The Chinese Ambassador already said they will not ask for a larger share if (the joint oil exploration) will push through," he said.

Panelo, also the chief presidential legal adviser, said that the planned joint exploration with China could be "a bargaining leverage" to settle the dispute in the South China Sea.

"You can said, after all, that's ours. Why can't we just talk the oil exploration so that we can both benefit?" he said.

"When you are an owner of something, you can't be precisely attacked that you are supposed to perform. If you're the owner, you can lend it or let other (country) use it with you," explained Panelo.

"That very act alone shows that you are the owner because you allow them. Because if you're not the owner, how can you give permission to perform an act on particular thing if you do not own it," he added.

President Rodrigo Duterte is set to go to China later this month. One of the topics he would raise with Chinese President Xi Jinping would be on the 60:40 joint undertaking in the West Philippine Sea, the area being claimed by the Philippines in the South China Sea. Cristina Eloisa Baclig/DMS