The government has vowed to ensure that any joint oil exploration deal with China in the West Philippine Sea must be beneficial to the Filipino nation.
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo acknowledged that ensuring public interest was the “absolute” position of the government in discussing the proposed oil exploration agreement with the Asian neighbor.
“Basta ang position natin, kung ano ‘yung beneficial sa ating bansa, doon tayo. ‘Yan ang absolute na position natin,” he said.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. had earlier announced the country has accepted the terms of reference proposed by China for a proposed joint oil exploration in the West Philippine Sea.
Locsin claimed that the China’s version of the terms of reference was “superior to our own.” “Everything going well,” he tweeted.
Asked about the country’s “non-negotiable” conditions as well as the sharing arrangement in the oil deal, Panelo said he would defer to Locsin to address the matter.
He said the Foreign Affairs Secretary was “more knowledgeable” about the proposed oil exploration arrangement with China. “That’s his territory. I would not want to preempt him,” he said. (Genalyn Kabiling)