Business not war — Locsin

In undisputed areas, China sees no problem doing it explicitly under Philippine law.

There will be no imminent danger of war if the Philippines pursues the development of resources specifically in the oil and gas explorations in disputed areas of the West Philippine Sea.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said China is not threatening war against the Philippines.

In a Twitter post, Locsin argued against the claim of an armed conflict saying that China was not the only one which has offered to help develop the country’s oil and gas resources, citing companies Shell and Chevron which were part of the natural gas project in Malampaya.

A Twitter user had claimed that China is threatening war “to prevent the Philippines in developing its own resources.”

“Shell and Chevron’s Malampaya is running out. No, it is not threatening war; we’re almost there. In undisputed areas, China sees no problem doing it explicitly under Philippine law; in disputed areas under my MoU (memorandum of understanding) on oil and gas which spares either from conceding sovereign claims,” Locsin posted in response.

He was referring to the MoU on joint oil and gas development in the West Philippines Sea that he signed with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s two-day state visit in the Philippines in 2018.

Locsin also said that the Malampaya project with Shell and Chevron has “long antedated” the 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration based in The Hague favoring the Philippines in its claim in the South China Sea.

The exchanges of tweets stemmed from Locsin’s previous post saying that China does not need the Philippines’ oil and gas resources and the superpower was the only one offering to help and develop it.

“China doesn’t need our oil and gas. We do. And China is the only one offering to help develop it. A Filipino discovered humongous oil and gas just offshore Beijing. It’s rolling in minerals,” Locsin said in his previous tweet.

Based on the copy of the MoU that Locsin signed with the Chinese official, it stated that China and Philippines will abide by the principles of “mutual respect, fairness and mutual benefit, flexibility and pragmatism, and consensus” in the negotiations on the joint oil and gas exploration in “relevant maritime areas consistent with applicable rules of international law.”

Moreover, the MOU will be without prejudice to the respective legal positions of both governments and “does not create right or obligations under international and domestic law.”

President Rodrigo Duterte also acknowledged outgoing Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua’s contributions to “stronger” relations between the Philippines and China late on Monday.

In a farewell call held at Malacañang, Mr. Duterte thanked Zhao for his key role in strengthening ties between Manila and Beijing.

Malacañang said the President also wished the Chinese ambassador “good luck” in his future endeavors.

“President Duterte, whose independent foreign policy drove the Philippines closer to the Asian economic giant, wished Zhao good luck in his next assignment as China’s ambassador,” it said in a statement.