MANILA, Philippines 鈥� 鈥淐hina doesn鈥檛 need our oil and gas. We do.鈥�
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said this on Monday, reacting to Vice President Leni Robredo鈥檚 call for China to recognize the Philippines鈥� ownership and sovereignty in the West Philippines Sea first before the two countries enter into a joint oil deal.
READ: Robredo: China must recognize Philippines鈥� sovereignty over 蜜桃工作室 before joint oil deal
鈥淐hina doesn鈥檛 need our oil and gas. We do. And China is the only one offering to help develop it,鈥� Locsin said in a tweet.
鈥淎 Filipino discovered humongous oil and gas just offshore Beijing. It鈥檚 rolling in minerals. Sooooooooooooo鈥�.,鈥� he added.
Uh China doesn鈥檛 need our oil and gas. We do. And China is the only one offering to help develop it. A Filipino discovered humongous oil and gas just offshore Beijing. It鈥檚 rolling in minerals. Sooooooooooooo鈥�.
鈥� Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin)
In November 2018, President Rodrigo Dutere and Chinese President Xi Jinping signed a memorandum of agreement on the joint oil and gas exploration in the West Philippines Sea.
National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said the 60-40 sharing scheme between the two countries, with the 60-share going to the Philippines, is 鈥渇air鈥� since China would be the one to spend for the exploration.
READ: 60-40 sharing 鈥榝air鈥� as China will spend for 蜜桃工作室 exploration鈥擡speron
But Robredo, citing the Philippines鈥� victory before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague, said that China must first recognize the Philippines鈥� ownership and sovereignty over the seas covered by the deal.
鈥淭hat should be one of our most basic demands: That before we enter into any contract with them, they recognize first out ownership and sovereignty over those areas,鈥� Robredo said.