Metro Manila, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the ongoing conflict in the Middle East could serve as an impetus for the Philippines and China to revisit discussions on joint oil and gas exploration in the South China Sea, despite longstanding territorial disputes.
In an interview with Bloomberg, Marcos acknowledged that while discussions have long been on the table, tensions have hindered progress.
“We’ve been talking about [it] for a great deal, but the territorial disputes will get in the way of that,” he said, adding that global developments such as the Iran war.
“Maybe…it should provide impetus for both sides to come to an agreement.”
Marcos also signaled a possible recalibration of relations with Beijing amid shifting geopolitical dynamics.
“It’s certainly going to happen… there’s going to be a very, very serious restructuring,” he said, noting that countries may need to “redraw” aspects of their international relationships.
Despite this, the president emphasized that Philippine foreign policy remains anchored on peace and national interest.
“Our foreign policy is very, very simple. It’s peace in the national interest. That’s it,” he said.
“War is never in the national interest as far as the Philippines is concerned.”
China signaled openness to reviving talks, saying cooperation remains on the table if Manila shows willingness.
In a statement, the Chinese Embassy said “setting aside differences and pursuing joint development is the right path” to maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea, adding that both sides have already made “positive progress” in past discussions.
“As long as the Philippine side demonstrates sincerity, China’s door to dialogue and cooperation will remain open,” it said.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro previously noted that a revival of joint exploration may be “forthcoming,” though she clarified that no formal directive has yet been issued by the president.
“Hindi naman ’yan bago [This is not new],” Lazaro said, referring to negotiations under the Duterte administration.
She noted that previous talks, which spanned three years, were terminated in 2022 due to unresolved sovereignty issues, and warned that any new agreement could face constitutional challenges.
Lazaro added that negotiators are now more aware of the “pitfalls” from past efforts, while broader maritime mechanisms—including a South China Sea code of conduct—are still being negotiated and could be finalized within the year.
The Philippines had earlier withdrawn from joint exploration talks with China in 2022, with then Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. citing unresolved legal and sovereignty concerns.
However, officials have since maintained that Manila has not closed the door on future negotiations, provided they comply with the Constitution and protect national interest.
