Malacañang on Saturday assured the public the Philippines will get a fair shake from a joint oil exploration with China at a disputed area in the Spratlys.
“It [joint venture] is still in the exploratory stage, we don’t know yet the details of the agreement. But certainly what will be taken into consideration is the parity of the parties and it will also serve our national interest," Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said on government-run dzRB radio.
He added both sides are still continuing to dialogue on the matter.
But he stressed the Philippines will not allow the exploration to intrude into what is clearly Philippine territory.
“We know what is ours... Anytime we are going to discuss exploratory talks with other countries we have to bear in mind which is ours and which is disputed," he said, citing an earlier statement by Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario.
The Philippines and China had some encounters within disputed areas. The two are among six claimants to the Spratlys, the others being Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei.
“Ang mahalaga dapat patas yung agreement, fair to all concerned. Yan ang prime consideration," Lacierda said.
Last Friday, Trade Undersecretary Cristino Panlilio was quoted as saying the Philippine government has agreed to allow Chinese government-owned firm Sino Petroleum Corp. to conduct oil exploration in the disputed areas in Spratlys in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).
Dotted red line shows vast area claimed by China. The PHL, which is claiming some islands, has begun calling the region the West Philippine Sea. GMANews.TV
Panlilio said this is part of a $2- to 7-billion investment package the Philippine contingent is expected to get during the state visit of President Aquino to China next week.
He said both parties do not expect any problems with the Spratlys operations because Sino Petroleum has already agreed to conduct the oil exploration “under Philippine laws."
Panlilio said a top official of Sino Petroleum would meet Aquino during the state visit, and Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras would sign the agreement on behalf of the Philippine government.
During the visit, Aquino is expected to sign the Philippines-China Development Program.
Under the agreement, China promises to invest $50 billion over the next five years. The $2 billion to $7 billion is included in the $50-billion commitment.
Lacierda noted the agreement shows both countries “are continuing to dialogue notwithstanding some disagreements."
Joint exploration talks
Lacierda said Aquino and Chinese President Hu Jintao are not likely to discuss the joint exploration at their level.
“It’s in the works, in the ministry level," he said.
Moreover, he said both sides know each other’s positions, adding both parties “are willing to go into continuous dialogue."
“We’ll just be respectful towards each other. We have differences but we can go (beyond) those differences," he said.
Meanwhile, Lacierda said China appears enthusiastic about President Benigno Aquino III’s upcoming state visit to China.
He said seven Chinese media agencies interviewed Aquino last Friday night, four of them from Manila and two from Beijing.
“Kitang kita ang knailang respeto at enthusiasm sa pagdating ni Pangulong Aquino sa China. Simple ang tanong, tingin nila sa atin kaibigan talaga, hindi parang kaaway," he said.
