Discussions On Energy Exploration With China Terhentiated, President Of The Philippines: We Must Fight

Chinese President Xi Jinping with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (Wikimedia Commons/OPS-OIC Undersecretary Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil)

JAKARTA - The Philippines must find ways to explore oil and gas in the South China Sea even without an agreement with China, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday, stressed the country's right to exploit energy reserves in contested waters.

"That's a big thing for us, that's why we have to fight (for what belongs to us) and take advantage if there is oil there," President Marcos told reporters.

Talks on joint energy exploration between Manila and Beijing in the South China Sea have been suspended, the previous government said in June, citing constitutional constraints and sovereignty issues.

"That's the obstacle, it's hard to see how we can solve it. I think there might be another way so it doesn't have to be G-to-G (government-to-government)," explained President Marcos.

The Chinese Embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

President Marcos' remarks came after his foreign minister said in August Manila was open to new talks with China on oil and gas exploration, that deals with China or any other country must comply with Philippine law.

The Philippines relies heavily on imported fuels for its energy needs, making it vulnerable to supply shocks and rising oil prices, which have helped drive inflation near its highest level in the past 14 years.

Meanwhile, during last week's three-day visit, US Vice President Kamala Harris reiterated America's defense commitment to the Philippines, reaffirming support for the 2016 arbitration ruling over Beijing's claims in the South China Sea.

The ruling, rejected by China, states the Philippines has sovereign rights to exploit energy reserves within the 200-mile (321-kilometer) Exclusive Economic Zone.

President Marcos said on Thursday, "we will have something more concrete" to announce early next year on a US proposal to access a Philippine military base under the 2014 Improved Defense Cooperation Agreement.

Washington has proposed the addition of more sites to the current five under EDCA, allowing the rotation of US ships and military aircraft at the jointly agreed bases.

Separately, Philippine company PXP Energy Corp, which holds exploration permits at Reed Bank, the disputed region, has been in talks with China National Offshore Oil Corp on joint ventures. But Manila and Beijing's conflicting claims have prevented it from further drilling and reached an agreement with CNOOC.