Philippines, China begin talks on oil, gas explorationManila and Beijing convened back-to-back the 24th Foreign Ministry Consultations and the 11th Meeting of the Bilateral Consultation Mechanism (BCM) on the South China Sea on March 27 and 28 in Quanzhou City, in China’s Fujian province. MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines and China discussed “initial exchanges” on a potential oil and gas exploration in the South China Sea, as the two countries resumed the bilateral dialogue to manage disputes in the contested waters. Manila and Beijing convened back-to-back the 24th Foreign Ministry Consultations and the 11th Meeting of the Bilateral Consultation Mechanism (BCM) on the South China Sea on March 27 and 28 in Quanzhou City, in China’s Fujian province. The two sides explored preliminary steps toward oil and gas cooperation and emphasized the importance of stable energy and fertilizer access. “The Philippines emphasized the need for diplomacy and communication for managing differences at sea, and upholding international law, particularly the 1982 UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) and the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award,” the DFA said.

Source: Philippine Star March 29, 2026 16:41 UTC