Philippines interests safeguarded in oil exploration with China – PalaceThe Philippines is ready with two joint oil and gas exploration agreements to be signed with China. MANILA, Philippines — The Marcos administration will continue to safeguard the country’s rights in the West Philippine Sea, a Malacañang official assured Filipinos yesterday, as Manila and Beijing opened “initial exchanges” on potential offshore oil and gas exploration. The Philippines and China convened back-to-back the 24th Foreign Ministry Consultations and the 11th Meeting of the Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on the South China Sea on March 27 and 28 in Quanzhou City, in China’s Fujian province. The Chinese embassy in Manila earlier said China’s “door to dialogue” on joint oil and gas development in the South China Sea remains open, but the Philippines must first “demonstrate sincerity” before negotiations can resume. China is claiming almost the entire South China Sea, ignoring the 2016 arbitral award that is based on international law.

Source: Philippine Star March 30, 2026 17:31 UTC