China’s Wang Yi to visit Manila amid planned energy exploration with PHL in South China Sea

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will be in the country this weekend for talks with Philippine government officials amid negotiations for an energy exploration deal between the two countries in the disputed South China Sea.

A media advisory issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs on Friday said Wang’s visit is scheduled on Oct. 28 to 29. Meetings with Philippine officials, including President Rodrigo Duterte and counterpart, Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., will be held in Davao City.

Wang will also meet with Duterte’s economic managers regarding the government’s massive infrastructure program, dubbed as “Build, Build, Build.”

The DFA notice said bilateral documents will be signed, but did not say if the planned exploration deal is included.

Former Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said a framework agreement that will allow the two countries to undertake energy exploration is being hammered out by the two sides.

He said the Philippines is open to a 60-40 deal, in favor of Manila, should a joint development undertaking pushes through with China.

Cayetano previously mentioned that Reed Bank, which is within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone, may be a possible site for exploration.

He assured that any planned energy exploration deal with rival claimant China will comply with the Philippine Constitution and international laws.

Wang’s visit will also be an opportunity for the two governments to discuss on preparations for the upcoming visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to the country in November 20 to 21.

Relations between the two Asian neighbors plunged to its lowest when the Philippines sought arbitration in January 2013 to invalidate China’s massive claim over the South China Sea, including areas within the waters that fall under Manila’s territory.

A few weeks into Rodrigo Duterte’s presidency, the tribunal ruled in favor of the Philippines, but China refused to honor the decision.

Duterte opted to set aside the ruling, saying that pressing China to comply may result to an armed conflict that the Philippines will certainly lose given China's military might.

Instead, Duterte focused on normalizing ties with China with the aim of securing more trade and infrastructure funds.

The resource-rich South China Sea, a chain of more than 100 islands, shoals, reefs and coral outcrops, straddles one of the world’s most vital sea lanes. Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan are also claimants to the South China Sea.

China has long frowned on any discussion of the disputes in multilateral arenas like the Association of South East Asian Nations, where the Philippines is a member and Beijing a dialogue partner. China demands instead for a bilateral negotiation. — Michaela del Callar/RSJ, GMA News