South China Sea Dispute Between China and the Philippines Continues
The Philippines and China have developed an openly unfriendly relationship over their territorial disputes in the South China Sea. But while top officials trade accusations, other people are looking for ways to compromise. Some groups say such a compromise could lead the two sides to explore jointly for oil and natural gas.
Christopher Cruise has more on the story from reporter Simone Orendain from Manila.
This map shows disputed areas in the South China Sea
The Philippines’ only productive deep-water natural gas project is expected to run dry by 2024. The country badly needs to develop new oil and gas wells in the South China Sea. Philippines Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla says he is hopeful about the possibility for an unlikely collaboration. He says this partnership might take place between Forum Energy, based in Britain, and the China National Offshore Oil Corporation, or CNOOC. He says exploration is necessary.
“The alternative is not to drill, probably forever…You have to look at the alternatives. You want to preserve your sovereign rights but at the same time, without actually compromising your sovereign rights, can you come up with commercial [exploration], because we need it?”
Both the Philippines and China need the energy trapped underneath the sea floor. But they cannot agree on how to divide it because each country claims the area as its own.
最新
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25