President Duterte on Tuesday said that he was open to exploring the resources of the South China Sea with rival claimants China and Vietnam, contradicting Foreign Secretary-designate Alan Peter Cayetano, who said on Sunday that joint exploration was not a direction for the Philippines in the resolution…
President Duterte on Tuesday said that he was open to exploring the resources of the South China Sea with rival claimants China and Vietnam, contradicting Foreign Secretary-designate Alan Peter Cayetano, who said on Sunday that joint exploration was not a direction for the Philippines in the resolution of disputes in the strategic waterway.
Mr. Duterte also said he had no immediate plans to pressure China over an international tribunal’s ruling last year that its claim to almost all of the South China Sea was baseless.
“If we can get something there with no hassle at all, why not?” Mr. Duterte said at a news briefing in Davao City after his arrival from Beijing, where he attended a new Silk Road conference with leaders and representatives of 28 other countries.
Mr. Duterte was asked about a proposal for jointly exploring the waters of the Spratly Islands with China and Vietnam.
“Let us see the wherewithals. I will check first if I won’ t be disadvantaged. It has to be fair and it has to be balanced, ” Mr. Duterte said.
The Philippines and China open talks on the resolution of their dispute in the South China Sea this week.
Ahead of the consultations, Philippine Special Envoy for Intercultural Dialogue Jose de Venecia Jr., speaking at the opening of the new Silk Road conference on Sunday, proposed a three-way energy exploration effort at the disputed Spratly Islands among the Philippines, Vietnam and China.
