Former President of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, recently disclosed that Chinese President Xi Jinping conveyed a stern warning regarding oil drilling in the contested waters of the South China Sea. According to Duterte, Xi cautioned against escalating tensions to the point of armed conflict if the Philippines asserted its rights in the area.
Duterte’s account of his 2016 state visit to China provides insight into the discussions with Xi concerning Manila’s intentions to exploit oil resources in the West Philippine Sea, situated within its exclusive economic zone. Purportedly, Xi adamantly opposed this proposal and advised Duterte against it, underscoring the significance of their amicable relationship.
The former president refuted any notion of an informal agreement with Xi, asserting that their only understanding pertained to maintaining the status quo within the disputed waters, thereby implying a prohibition on establishing new infrastructures or facilities.
Speculations surrounding China’s disapproval of Manila’s activities at the Second Thomas Shoal to resupply the BPS Sierra Madre, a decommissioned navy vessel utilized to bolster the Philippines’ territorial claims, may have contravened an unwritten understanding Duterte had reached with Xi.
Throughout his tenure, Duterte pursued closer diplomatic ties with China, departing from the longstanding partnership with the United States and referring to Xi as a trusted confidant. This realignment of foreign policy sought to fortify the Philippines’ relations with other nations, including Japan, while also leaning towards the US.
The territorial dispute in the South China Sea involves the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Vietnam, with China asserting historical claims over the area on the basis of their nine-dash boundary claim. In 2016, a UN arbitration panel ruled in favor of the Philippines, invalidating China’s historical claims, a ruling which Beijing rejected.
Presently, the US and the Philippines maintain a Mutual Defense Treaty, with the US affirming its unwavering defense commitments to the Philippines, particularly in the event of aggression in the South China Sea. The alliance seeks to thwart China’s ascension as the dominant regional power and underscores a shared interest between the two countries.
In summation, Duterte’s disclosure regarding China’s war warning over the South China Sea dispute, in conjunction with Manila’s alliance with the US, presents intricate geopolitical dynamics and underscores the necessity for the Philippines to judiciously navigate its foreign policy in the region. It is imperative to acknowledge the delicate equilibrium between global superpowers while safeguarding national interests.
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