‘Explore joint West Philippine Sea exploration with other countries’

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine government must open its doors to other countries in holding talks for possible joint exploration of resources in the West Philippine Sea, Sen. Grace Poe said yesterday.

Poe made the statement following calls by some of her colleagues that the executive branch must involve the Senate in resuming talks with Beijing on the possibility of conducting joint exploration in the West Philippine Sea that is dotted with fortifications made by China.

“Why China, or why only China, when there are other neighboring countries staking claim in the disputed sea?” she said.

She added that the plan to resume talks on the joint oil exploration with China comes amid the continued presence of their vessels in the West Philippine Sea.

The senator also noted that dozens of diplomatic protests have already been filed in connection with China’s incursions in the West Philippine Sea, which Beijing has disputed or ignored.

In pursuing the talks, the government should also consider existing jurisprudence related to maritime explorations, according to Poe.

“Country, Constitution, civility and transparency must be our key guideposts in any dealing with foreign nations,” she said.

Sen. Francis Tolentino, vice chairman of the foreign relations committee, earlier advised Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo to make sure that the Senate is kept in the loop in such critical talks.

Tolentino said any agreement to conduct joint exploration of mineral resources in the WPS with other countries must abide by the Supreme Court decision on the matter, uphold the 1987 Constitution and recognize the 2016 ruling of the Arbitral Tribunal in The Hague that junked China’s “nine-dash line” claim over the South China Sea that all made reference to the Philippines’ rights to its 200-mile exclusive economic zone.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III and Sen. Francis Escudero agreed that the chamber must be apprised of developments in the talks.