Hong Kong
CNN
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Chinese leader Xi Jinping and his Philippine counterpart Ferdinand Marcos Jr. agreed to strengthen economic ties and resume talks on oil and gas exploration, as they seek to revive their economies amid a pandemic slowdown and friction over disputed areas in the South China Sea. .
Xi Jinping met Marcos Jr. on Wednesday during the Philippine President’s first state visit to Beijing, where the two leaders agreed to “continue to properly handle maritime issues through friendly consultations,” according to a statement. from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China.
reading section added that both sides will “resume negotiations on oil and gas exploration, promote cooperation in oil and gas exploration in non-disputed areas”.
Marcos Jr. previously said his country would pursue oil and gas exploration in the South China Sea even without a deal with Chinaafter the exploratory talk was officially terminated in June 2022 due to constitutional challenges and sovereignty issues. China claims almost all of the 1.3 million square miles in the South China Sea, although other territories, including the Philippines, have competing – and sometimes overlapping – claims over some areas. certain area.
The South China Sea has long been a source of tension between Manila and Beijing, and the relationship became even more strained in December when the Philippine Defense Department expressed “great concern” over the South China Sea. the presence of Chinese ships in the disputed waterway.
The Philippines has repeatedly accused Chinese ships of harassing Filipino fishermen in the area. The statement was made on WednesdayMarcos Jr. said he raised the issue with Xi during their meeting in Beijing.
In the statement, Marcos Jr. Xi said Xi promised to “find a solution” to allow Filipino fishermen to operate in the Southeast Asian nation’s natural fishing grounds.
He added: “We also discussed what we can do to move forward, to avoid any possible mistakes, misunderstandings that could cause a bigger problem than we could. had”.
To that end, the countries announced plans to establish a direct line of communication between their maritime divisions.
In the Philippine statement, Marcos Jr. said Xi is committed to expanding assistance to the Philippines to include agriculture, infrastructure and maritime security, with both sides having signed a total of 14 bilateral agreements.
Xi also promised broad cooperation opportunities with the Philippines, including supporting Chinese investment in the Philippines and helping the neighboring country develop agricultural technology, basic education, meteorology and spaceflight, and vaccine research, China’s foreign ministry said.
The Philippines has long balanced America’s strategic interests in the Pacific with the geopolitical and economic rise of China.
While the Philippines is a longstanding defense ally of the United States, predecessor Rodrigo Duterte has sought closer ties with China during his six years in office, setting aside territorial disputes in exchange for Chinese investment.
Marcos Jr.’s Beijing trip. takes place after the Vice President of the United States Kamala Harris visited the Philippines in November, where she reaffirmed Washington’s “unwavering” commitment to her ally.
During that visit, Harris and Marcos Jr. discussed 21 new US-funded projects, including more defensive sites around the Philippines.
