Cayetano: PH and China to find legal framework on joint exploration

FILE: Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano (Photo: Alan Peter Cayetano/Facebook)

After talks on the joint exploration between the Philippines and China in the South China Sea, the administration’s foreign affairs secretary said that both parties can settle differences through a legal framework.

“The Philippines and China are finding a common legal framework to conduct joint exploration and surveys. And with our discussions today I’m confident that we will find a suitable legal framework for our differences,” Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said in a Reuters report.

In the same report, a Chinese diplomat said that the South China sea will be source of friendship for the two nations.

“We will enhance maritime dialogue and pursue equal-footed and friendly consultation and in a prudent and steady way advance cooperation on offshore oil and gas exploration,” State Councilor Wang Yi said.

Earlier this March, the Palace through Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Jr. said that the Philippines should have the control over the planned joint exploration with China.

(Read: Palace says PH is in control on joint exploration with China)

Roque stressed in a press briefing on March 5 that because Service Contract (SC) 57 is still within the Philippine exclusive economic zone, the Philippine government will be the one in control of the operations of the exploration.

“Well they can participate in explorations and exploitation provided, as the decision says we have ultimate control over the exploration and the development,” he said.

However, he said that this is not the case with SC 72.

“They will absolutely be subject to Philippine Law, if it is 57. As to 72, the agreement on joint exploration will be governed by international law, because there has to be a treaty to be signed between the Philippines and China first on the joint exploration before it can be implemented by juridical entities of the contracting states,” Roque said.