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The Philippines
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South China Sea: Philippines wants to start energy exploration projects in waterway, says Marcos Jnr

  • Philippine leader says his country is working to resolve “exploration issues” in the waterway so it could start energy projects to meet energy needs
  • In an interview with Japanese media on Saturday, Marcos Jnr said tensions in the sea have ‘increased rather than diminished’ in recent months

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Philippines’ President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr attending a session of the Asean-Japan Commemorative Summit Meeting in Tokyo on Sunday. Photo: AP
Reuters

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr said his country is working to resolve “exploration issues” in the South China Sea so it could start new energy exploration projects in the resource-rich waterway to meet his nation’s energy needs.

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Marcos Jnr, in an interview with Japanese media on Saturday, said tensions in the South China Sea have “increased rather than diminished” in recent months, warning that a “more assertive China” posed a “real challenge” to its Asian neighbours.

Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (second from right) and his wife, Yuko Kishida, welcoming Philippines’ President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr and his wife, Louise Araneta Marcos, at the Akasaka Palace on Saturday. Photo: AFP
Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (second from right) and his wife, Yuko Kishida, welcoming Philippines’ President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr and his wife, Louise Araneta Marcos, at the Akasaka Palace on Saturday. Photo: AFP

The Philippines and China have resumed discussions about jointly exploring oil and gas resources in the South China Sea, where the two nations have sparred for decades over sovereign rights to develop natural resources in the strategic waterway.

But “very little progress” has been made with regard to the talks, Marcos said, according to a press release from his office as he attends a Tokyo summit of Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

“We are still at a deadlock right now,” Marcos Jnr said as he emphasised his country’s right to exploit energy reserves in the West Philippines Sea at a time the Philippines wants to reduce its reliance on fossil fuel and coal, and transition to liquefied natural gas.

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Manila refers to the portion of the South China Sea that is within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) as the West Philippine Sea.

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