MANILA, Philippines — Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said yesterday she supports President Duterte’s plan for the country to have joint exploration with China of some disputed areas in the West Philippine Sea.

“Yes, I support that. We should be friends with China. That was also my policy during my administration,” the former president said in an interview on GMA-7’s Unang Hirit.

Some Duterte administration critics have questioned the plan, saying it would violate the Constitution if the areas of joint exploration were part of the country’s 200-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio has said no such violation would be committed provided that Manila were in control of any joint development project and Beijing did not insist on its ownership claim over areas within the Philippines’ EEZ.

Carpio helped the government win its case in 2016 against China in the United Nations-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration.

Under the ruling, three sea features in the West Philippine Sea, including Beijing-occupied Mischief Reef and Recto Bank, are part of the Philippines’ EEZ.