Jamaine Punzalan

A child holds national flags of China and the Philippines before President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte and China's President Xi Jinping attend a welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, October 20, 2016. Thomas Peter, Pool/AFP/File

Article (news)

Children hold national flags of China and the Philippines before President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte and China's President Xi Jinping attend a welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing

ABS-CBN News

Agence France-Presse

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1774837807043AFP__20161020__HB552__v4__MidRes__ChildrenHoldNationalFlagsOfChinaAndThePhilippinesB.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">A child holds national flags of China and the Philippines before President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte and China&#x27;s President Xi Jinping attend a welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, October 20, 2016. Thomas Peter, Pool/AFP/File</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The Philippines and China have opened “initial exchanges” on oil and gas exploration, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said. </p><p>The two countries convened back-to-back the 24th Foreign Ministry Consultations and the 11th Meeting of the Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on the South China Sea on March 27 and 28 in Quanzhou City, Fujian Province, China. </p><p>During the consultations, Manila “reaffirmed its commitment to handle bilateral issues in line with the Philippine national interest, while advancing mutually beneficial cooperation especially in the economic and people-to-people area,” the DFA said. </p><p>It said China and the Philippines recognized “current global uncertainties, especially developments in the Middle East” and “discussed the importance of stable access to energy and fertilizers, as well as potential cooperation in green and renewable energy.” </p><p>“Both sides continued to make progress on practical measures that are consistent with Philippine law and policy to increase confidence in the maritime domain, including coast guard to coast guard communication, ocean meteorology, and initial exchanges on potential oil and gas cooperation,” it added. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/26/palace-marcos-has-no-secret-deals-on-joint-oil-exploration-with-china-1654">Palace: Marcos ‘has no secret deals’ on joint oil exploration with China</a></div><p>The import-dependent Philippines has seen the price of fuel hit historic highs since the US-Israeli war with Iran forced the partial closure of the Strait of Hormuz.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/29/recto-highlights-public-private-efforts-to-address-oil-crisis-1346">Recto highlights public-private efforts to address oil crisis</a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/27/marcos-philippine-crude-oil-supply-enough-until-end-of-june-0855">Marcos says Philippine crude oil supply enough until end of June</a></div><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display:flex;max-width:550px;width:100%;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" style="position:static;visibility:visible;width:440px;height:634px;display:block;flex-grow:1" title="X Post" 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data-tweet-id="2037898751805927458"></iframe></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8"></script><p>In 2022, then-president Rodrigo Duterte called a halt to oil and gas exploration in areas of the South China Sea disputed with China.</p><p>Beijing has ignored a 2016 international tribunal decision that declared its historical claim over most of the South China Sea to be without basis.</p><p>The DFA said Manila and Beijing “had frank and thorough exchange of views on the situation in the South China Sea” during last week’s consultations. </p><p>“The Philippine side firmly reiterated its principled positions and raised concerns over incidents affecting the safety of Filipino personnel and fishermen, including actions that have disrupted lawful activities and posed risks at sea,” the agency said. </p><p>“The Philippines emphasized the need for diplomacy and communication for managing differences at sea, and upholding international law, particularly the 1982 UNCLOS and the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award,” it added. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/29/ph-resumes-talks-raises-concern-over-china-s-actions-in-west-ph-sea-1011">PH raises concern over China’s actions in West PH Sea at Fujian meeting</a></div>

<p>The Philippines and China have opened “initial exchanges” on oil and gas exploration, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.</p>

The Philippines and China have opened “initial exchanges” on oil and gas exploration, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.

Philippines, China open talks on oil and gas exploration

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Philippines, China open talks on oil and gas exploration

Jamaine Punzalan,

ABS-CBN News,

Agence France-Presse

Published March 30, 2026 10:34 AM PHT

Read More:

oil

fuel

gas

China

Philippines

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