The oil-rich Spratly Islands are the main focus of the territorial disputes in the West Philippine―or South China, to some―Sea. China and the Philippines share claims with Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam.

The relationship between the Philippines and China is not confined within both countries’ claim over the West Philippine Sea.

Neither is entering into a joint venture with China a “surrender” move, something that President Rodrigo Duterte continuously reiterate will never happen.

“The President has not abandoned, nor is he abandoning, and neither will he ever abandon the favorable arbitral award issued by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, more so with respect to our rights in the West Philippine Sea,” Salvador Panelo, Presidential Spokesperson, said on Saturday.

Panelo said the President deems it wise and prudent that the Philippines explore production-sharing agreement with China that would help explore, develop or utilize natural resources in the said maritime area.

“We continue to dialogue peacefully for the resolution of the conflict in the West Philippine Sea,” Panelo said in a statement. “The arbitral ruling is final, binding and unappealable. It is there forever. Not only is it carved in stone but it is as permanent as the sun rising on the east.”

The Palace also shrugged off government critics’ alternate interpretations of the President’s foreign policy regarding the WPS claim.

Panelo particularly pointed at Justice Antonio Carpio, who seems to “relish in finding fault in what the President says even if there is none.”

Panelo finds it absurd that Carpio himself said he has no objections if a joint exploration with China in the WPS is pursued.

“Justice Carpio stated that the proposal of 60–40 in our favor would be a good start,” Panelo recalled.

Last year, Carpio said there’s no incompatibility in a joint exploration because the Philippines has other relations with China.

“We have trade. We have cultural and all other matters. But we should not do anything that will waive our rights to the West Philippine Sea,” Carpio said then, shortly after the third State of the Nation Address of President Duterte.

Panelo thus assured Carpio that the President is always finding ways to resolve the dispute and will not waive any right nor give any consent that will undermine the country’s sovereign claims.

“Setting aside the ruling to come up with a viable economic activity in the West Philippine Sea is that: We would, in the meantime, divert our focus to something that would benefit our country in the midst of the impasse with China on our territorial dispute,” Panelo said.

“That is not to say, however, that we will totally forget about the said ruling and waive our sovereign rights as laid out therein.”

Panelo said diplomatic negotiations to resolve the conflicting claims are ongoing and Phl officials continue to invoke claims over the exclusive economic zone as against the position of China.

“The Philippine government continues to assert its rights over the West Philippine Sea, and this, despite whatever reluctance or objections there may be on the part of China in recognizing our rights over our exclusive economic zone therein, Panelo said.

“There is no force that can compel or intimidate the Philippines into abandoning or waiving it.”