President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. says there is a “distinct possibility” that the Philippines and China could undertake joint oil and gas exploration. He adds that talks on possible cooperation have progressed, and he points to ongoing efforts to revive or continue discussions tied to offshore resources in the South China Sea.
Marcos links renewed engagement to broader context and reported momentum: the Philippines and China resumed high-level South China Sea talks in March, and Marcos also references prior agreements with Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2023 to restart joint oil and gas development negotiations that had stalled for years. One outlet also notes that the Middle East conflict may spur progress, while another highlights urgency arising from recent energy supply disruptions and price spikes.
Marcos also addresses concerns about operational arrangements, saying there is no special deal requiring Manila to seek Beijing’s approval for resupply missions. Overall, outlets differ mainly on what they emphasize—negotiation momentum, external geopolitical factors, or energy-market pressures—while agreeing that joint exploration talks are being actively discussed and are not ruled out.
