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South China Sea: US part of Philippines’ ‘calculated’ plan to tap oil, gas in waters disputed by China
- Manila and its allies are ‘moving in a calculated way, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez said, declining to provide more details
- Manila imports almost all its fuel needs and has been trying for years to start energy exploration in the disputed waters, including a partnership with China
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The Philippines is counting on the US and its allies to play a crucial role in its plans to explore energy resources in the disputed South China Sea, according to Manila’s envoy to Washington.
The country is seeking to parlay its deepening security ties with Washington into broader economic benefits, said Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez.
“When the time comes that we are going to start exploring it, we’ll have the options to be able to see how we can secure the expedition,” Romualdez said in an interview in Manila. “We’re working closely with our allies, not only the US but also Japan and Australia,” he said.
The Philippines is exploring several options in its quest to tap the resource-rich South China Sea, waters that China claims almost in its entirety. The body of water is estimated to hold significant quantities of oil and gas, according to the US Energy Information Administration.
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Inviting US companies to invest in the exploration as well as development efforts and discussions with countries like Vietnam that also have overlapping claims with China are among the possible courses of action, he said on March 5.
The Philippines imports almost all its fuel needs and has been trying for years to start energy exploration in the disputed waters, including through a partnership with China. Negotiations between Manila and Beijing have, however, stalled amid heightened tensions, with their coastguard vessels recently clashing again at sea.
Calculated way
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