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Why revived China-Philippine talks won’t lead to energy cooperation in the South China Sea
Ferdinand Marcos Jnr says a reset in the fractious relationship is under way but observers aren’t so sure
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Maritime tensions between China and the Philippines are likely to persist despite Manila’s call for energy cooperation, Chinese observers said after revived diplomatic talks on the weekend.
Senior diplomats from the two countries met in the Chinese city of Quanzhou on Friday and Saturday for two rounds of talks, covering a range of issues from oil and gas cooperation in the South China Sea to renewable energy and coastguard communication.
The foreign ministry consultations were held for the first time in three years while the Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on the South China Sea last convened in January 2025. The mechanism was expected to be held twice a year when it was launched in 2017.
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They were held just days after Manila declared a national energy crisis induced by Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for missile strikes by Israel and the United States.
With the Philippines running short of fuel, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr told Bloomberg on Tuesday that the conflict in the Middle East might help Manila and Beijing jump-start their oil and gas project in the South China Sea.
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He also said a reset of ties with China was “happening now”.
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