Beijing Opens the Door, Pero May Condition: PH-China Oil Talks Could Return

China said it is open to bringing back joint oil and gas development talks with the Philippines, but Beijing made it clear that Manila would first need to show what it called “sincerity.” The statement came after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the ongoing global energy shock could push both sides to revisit long-stalled negotiations in the South China Sea.

According to the Philstar report, the Chinese Embassy in Manila said setting aside differences and pursuing joint development could help preserve peace and stability in the disputed waters while also giving practical benefits to countries in the region. Beijing also said previous discussions had already produced some positive progress before talks fell apart years ago.

Marcos, in a Bloomberg interview cited by the report, admitted that territorial disputes have long blocked any serious breakthrough. Still, he suggested the present oil situation may create fresh pressure for both governments to find common ground. The Philippines has been hit hard by rising prices because most of its crude supply still comes from the Middle East.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro meanwhile said there is still no formal order yet from the president to restart the negotiations. But she did not shut the door on the idea, saying future discussions would have to consider the legal and constitutional problems that caused earlier efforts to collapse. That includes restrictions in the Philippine Constitution and China’s refusal to recognize the 2016 arbitral ruling.

For now, walang final deal yet, but the mood has clearly shifted from dead end to possible reopening. If the energy emergency keeps worsening, this issue could move fast and turn into one of the biggest foreign policy and power supply stories in the country this year.

Source: Philstar — https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2026/03/26/2516959/china-open-reviving-south-china-sea-oil-talks-tells-philippines-show-sincerity