MANILA, Philippines — Joint exploration and development with China in the hotly contested South China Sea will ensure that the Philippines will not be in danger of losing oil and gas, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said on Wednesday.

In an interview over radio dzMM, Cayetano pushed for joint exploration and development as the Philippines does not have the technology and financial capability to do it alone.

“The critics, including acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio whom I respect, have been repeating time and again that we are in danger of losing oil and gas. That’s why we want joint exploration and development so that we won’t lose it because somehow, in technology and in financial capability, China, Malaysia and Vietnam have advantage over us,” Cayetano said in mixed English and Filipino.

He also gave assurance that the details on the joint exploration and development are being worked out similar to or much better than the Malampaya contract so that critics cannot say anything about it.

“If in Malampaya, it’s 60-40, we won’t allow less than 60-40,” he added.

Carpio warned that China is after the abundant oil, gas and fisheries found in the widely disputed South China Sea, a part of which the Philippines has territorial claim.

In March, Cayetano visited China for the continuation of the discussion with China for the joint endeavor and the next meeting between President Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Cayetano visited Beijing upon the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

The Philippines is actively pursuing joint exploration and development in the South China Sea with China, as a working group was tasked to find a legal framework that would allow the activity.

The Philippines sees no problem in areas where there is no dispute but Manila will talk to all the claimants in areas where there are multiple claimant countries.

Cayetano said exploration and research are the first steps because of constitutional requirements, whether to agree to share the resources.

Wang called the joint development “full of political wisdom” if pursued in the South China Sea.

Proper context

As this developed, Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua stressed that the issue on the South China Sea should be put in a proper context, as Duterte emphasized many times before that the Philippines will confront China when the proper time comes.

The President reiterated anew during his third State of the Nation Address last Monday that the Philippines will not waver in its claim of the South China Sea.

“I think your President is very wise in giving certain remarks on the Philippine-China relationship. We do have differences with the South China Sea issue but we have to put it in a proper context,” Zhao said during a visit to Davao City the other night.

What matters most in the bilateral ties between the two countries, according to Zhao, is the traditional friendship as well as the pragmatic cooperation “that will bring benefits to the Filipino people and also the Chinese people in spite of the continuing feud over the South China Sea.”

Zhao flew to Davao reportedly to try to speak with Duterte but the two only met briefly at the Asia-Pacific Healthy Islands Conference held at the Marco Polo Hotel.

“I think (Duterte has) been friendly and he’s been objective and wise in ushering, together with President XI Jinping, a new era of bilateral relationship which focuses on cooperation and friendship,” Zhao said.

OK’d by authorities

Meanwhile, Zhao said the recent arrivals of a Chinese ship and aircraft in Davao City were approved by Philippine authorities.

“We do that in accordance with the requirements for approval by the department concerned in the Philippines,” Zhao said.

“So the plane landing in Davao and the ship’s visit to Davao were all permitted by Philippine authorities,” he added, stressing that otherwise, they would not have docked or landed.

A Chinese research vessel made a port call in Davao City the other week, the fourth vessel from China to visit the Philippines since Duterte came to power.– With Edith Regalado