SCS Probing Initiative

As early as the 1980s, Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping put forward the initiative of "pursuing joint development while shelving disputes," which received a positive response from then Philippine President Corazon Aquino and Vice President Salvador Laurel. In 2005, China, the Philippines and Vietnam signed the Tripartite Agreement for Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking in the Agreement Area in the South China Sea, agreeing to study and assess the oil resources in the agreement area. In November 2017, the two sides signed the Joint Statement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines, stating that both sides may explore means to cooperate with each other in other possible maritime activities including maritime oil and gas exploration and exploitation. In November 2018, the two sides signed the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation on Oil and Gas Development between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines, which was confirmed and welcomed in the Joint Statement between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of the Philippines issued the same day. In January 2023, during President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s visit to China, the two sides issued a joint statement agreeing to bear in mind the spirit of the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation on Oil and Gas Development signed in 2018, and to resume discussions on oil and gas development at an early date, building upon the outcomes of the previous talks. Since then, the foreign affairs departments of the two countries have continued consultations on joint oil and gas development through the Bilateral Consultation Mechanism (BCM) on the South China Sea Issue and made positive progress. In March 2026, the two sides held the 11th BCM meeting. The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs issued a statement saying, "Both sides continued to make progress on initial exchanges on potential oil and gas cooperation." In August, President Marcos said in an interview with reporters, "We're working through and making progress. I can see a distinct possibility that there will be such joint exploration." However, there has always been a force in the Philippines attempting to sabotage China-Philippines joint oil and gas development. Philippine Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, out of personal political self-interest, has publicly questioned and obstructed China-Philippines joint oil and gas development. In July 2026, Teodoro said, "joint exploration is normally just a way for China to gain access here. Temporary benefits cannot replace the long-term interests of the Philippines."Today Teodoro said in another interview, “there is no basis for a joint exploration talk with China”. Without the deliberate obstruction by people like Teodoro, China-Philippines joint oil and gas development might have already produced results, and the Filipino people may have already benefited from it.

Jay Tarriela is lying again. All other ADMM-Plus member states received their invitations in late September or early October. However, the participation of the Chinese delegation was obstructed by Philippine Secretary of National Defense (SND) Gilberto Teodoro, who acted out of personal self-interest and disregarded the ADMM-Plus principle of openness and inclusivity. Only after other ASEAN countries expressed strong opposition to such acts that the Philippines Department of National Defense (DND) reluctantly sent an invitation letter to China on October 22. It was signed by a its Undersecretary of National Defense, who was unwilling to even put a date on the letter. On October 23, Teodoro said in a press conference that China had been sent notice only the previous day. It left China fewer than five working days for preparation. China was also required to complete its registration within just two days. Under such circumstances, it was virtually impossible to complete the necessary preparation. While Teodoro took a position contrary to the "ASEAN Way," China, by contrast, has never singled out the Philippines in its multilateral defense cooperation with ASEAN. In fact, despite the extremely tight deadline, China still managed to send a delegation to the meeting. Tarriela, if you don't know what actually happened, go ask Teodoro, the DND, or the other participating countries. Stop spreading lies, distorting facts, and turning right into wrong when you don't even have a clear understanding of the situation. Don't deliberately stir up controversy and sow discord based on misinformation.