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South China Sea: focus on oil and gas, not maritime dispute, Beijing urges Philippines
- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi says South China Sea issue ‘only partial to the entirety of Sino-Philippines relations’ after trip to Manila
- Energy cooperation is a theme of Wang’s tour of the region to strengthen relations ahead of change of government in Washington
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China and the Philippines should not be distracted by their disputes in the South China Sea and should instead focus on advancing cooperation on oil and gas exploration in the region, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said when wrapping up his week-long tour of Southeast Asia.
Wang’s trip, which also included stops in Myanmar, Indonesia and Brunei, came with Beijing seeking to consolidate its ties with the region before the new US administration takes office this week.
In an interview with state media posted on the ministry’s website on Sunday, Wang highlighted China’s desire to move the focus away from maritime disputes to joint exploration of resources in the waters.
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“Both sides believe that the South China Sea issue is only partial to the entirety of Sino-Philippines relations,” Wang said, discussing the outcomes of his Manila visit. “We should not let such 1 per cent difference derail the 99 per cent of our relations.”
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Explained: the history of China’s territorial disputes
Explained: the history of China’s territorial disputes
Wang said the two countries would continue to “properly manage their disputes” and push for oil and gas exploration in the South China Sea.
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Separately during Wang’s tour, China and Brunei set up a working group on energy cooperation, the ministry said on Friday, without providing details.
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