Manila Bulletin
Pimentel: PH, China should be transparent on joint oil gas exploration in WPS
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III emphasized the necessity of complete transparency in any potential joint oil and gas exploration between the Philippines and China in the West Philippine Sea.
Pimentel stated that transparency is crucial to ensure that any agreement aligns with the Philippine Constitution and upholds Filipino rights, including the mandated 60-40 ownership structure favoring Philippine companies.
He believes this transparency will build public confidence and address concerns about the government potentially compromising its claims in the West Philippine Sea.
The proposal for such exploration arose when Chinese President Xi Jinping met President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Beijing, with Jinping offering to open talks and prioritizing relations with Manila.
Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda also noted that negotiations should be based on the 2016 arbitral ruling affirming the Philippines' rights in its exclusive economic zone.
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