China and Philippines form steering group on sea resources as leaders meet amid growing tensions
- Philippine leader has faced a growing domestic backlash after a Chinese vessel sank a Filipino ship, but Xi insists the two countries should cooperate and try to agree on a code of conduct for the disputed waters
- Manila’s ambassador says ‘now is the time’ to discuss their dispute after three years in which Duterte has worked to build up reservoir of goodwill
Chinese President Xi Jinping said China and the Philippines could take a “bigger step” in the joint development of oil and gas resources in the South China Sea after the countries set up a committee for exploration.
Xi said on Thursday he wanted to work with his Philippine counterpart Rodrigo Duterte to develop the two countries’ relationship despite “complicated changes in the region and the world” as they met amid simmering tensions over the South China Sea.
The meeting was their eighth in the three years since Duterte took office, but came with the Philippine leader’s Beijing-friendly policies facing growing criticism at home – prompting him to promise he would discuss the matter with Xi.
State news agency Xinhua reported that a “joint steering committee” consisting of diplomats and energy officials, and “joint entrepreneurial working committees” made up of business figures involved in the project, were established after the meeting.
Manila has reportedly pushed for a 60:40 split in its favour for revenue generated from sea resources.