Daven Tamayo

Harapan 2025: Sotto pushes for PH-China ‘joint venture’ in West PH Sea

Various Sea and air assets of the Philippine Navy can be seen as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. attends the Philippine Navy Capability Demonstration onboard the BRP Davao Del Sur while sailing along the coast of Zambsales in the West Philippines Sea on May 19, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, Pool Photos, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

RG Cruz

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Former Senate President Vicente Sotto III wants the Philippines and China to go into a joint venture over the West Philippine Sea.</p><p>&quot;And sa akin, at this point, if I get the chance to talk to President Marcos…I will suggest that we try to come up with a co-venture with China and explore. Kaya sila mainit dyan,&quot; Sotto said. &quot;Alam naman natin kung ba&#x27;t sila mainit dyan. Mayaman yung South China Sea, mayaman yung West Philippine Sea. Alam natin yan eh. So mag-co venture na tayo. Lahat ng sa area namin, 60-40. 60 Pilipinas, 40 kayo. O dun sa lugar ninyo, 60 kayo, 40 kami. Dapat ganun na usapan dyan eh. Kaya we can simplify the matter. It&#x27;s merely really trying to be diplomatic about things and sit down and be practical. Ano naman nasa isip ng China rito? Diba? Pera-pera din yan eh.” </p><p>Sotto told ABS-CBN&#x27;s Harapan that the Philippines cannot just rely on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.</p><p>&quot;But one thing is sure, I originally filed and I am the original author of the maritime zones. Because yung kung ang China may 9-9, tayo may sarili tayong 7-9 or whatever they would want to call it. But the bill that I filed and they refiled after 2022 and now is a law, is creating or establishing the maritime zones of the Philippines. We cannot merely rely on UNCLOS, on what the UNCLOS says, United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Hindi pwede yun. Kailangan maliwanag. Alin ang atin,” he said.</p><p>In November 2024, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed two landmark laws that are seen to reinforce the country’s maritime entitlements as tensions with China rose in the West Philippine Sea.</p><p>The Philippine Maritime Zones Act and the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act show the country’s commitment to ensuring the safety and prosperity of its maritime domain, as well as its firm faith in its identity as a maritime nation, Marcos has said.</p><p>Republic Act 12064 or the Philippine Maritime Zones Act defines the extent of the country’s maritime entitlements and fully declares their metes and bounds in accordance with the Philippines Constitution and the United Nations Conventions on the Laws of the Sea.</p><p>These include the country’s internal waters, archipelagic waters, territorial sea, contiguous zone, exclusive economic zones, and continental shelf.</p><p>Meanwhile, RA 12065 or the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act establishes three archipelagic sea lanes that shall be utilized and accessed by foreign ships and aircrafts, without compromising the country’s national security.</p><p>Marcos said the two laws were expected to impact domestic laws and regulations at the national and local level.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/11/8/marcos-signs-two-laws-reinforcing-philippine-rights-over-maritime-zones-1306">Marcos signs two laws reinforcing Philippine rights over maritime zones</a></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/11/9/us-backs-enactment-of-philippines-maritime-zones-act-901">US backs enactment of Philippines Maritime Zones Act</a></div><p>In 2023, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo said the Philippines is about to discuss with China the &quot;general terms of reference&quot; for a possible joint energy exploration in the West Philippine Sea.</p><p>Before stepping down in 2022, then-President Rodrigo Duterte ended negotiations with China over a possible partnership for oil and gas exploration in the disputed waters claimed by both Manila and Beijing.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/business/03/30/23/ph-china-to-have-preliminary-talks-on-possible-oil-venture">PH, China to have &#x27;preliminary talks&#x27; on possible oil venture</a></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/H2R_k9Hp8Rk?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Former Senate President Vicente Sotto III wants the Philippines and China to go into a joint venture over the West Philippine Sea.</p>

Former Senate President Vicente Sotto III wants the Philippines and China to go into a joint venture over the West Philippine Sea.