United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin affirmed America’s commitment to Philippine security when he met with Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana at the Pentagon on Tuesday, Manila time.
Meanwhile, Malacanang said the Department of Energy (DOE) has asked the government to reconsider the oil exploration activities it suspended in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), despite the tensions with Chinese ships there.
In a statement, the US Defense Department said their country’s commitment to Philippine security is “ironclad,” and that the two countries’ Mutual Defense Treaty commitments extend to PH armed forces, public vessels, and aircraft in the South China Sea.
The Philippines has been fighting off Chinese incursions in its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, despite the 2016 ruling of a United Nations-backed arbitration court that invalidated Beijing’s expansive claims in the South China Sea.
However, maritime expert Jay Batongbacal, in a recent interview, said the Philippines is “losing” the vital waterway after the DOE ordered the suspension of exploration activities.
The move, Batongbacal said, is an indication that “China is seriously out to prevent any petroleum exploration and development by the Philippines within its own waters.”
The Palace statement came after oil and gas firm PXP Energy Corp. was directed to put on hold its exploration activities in its service contracts in the WPS until it secures clearance from the Security, Justice, and Peace Coordinating Council.
The SJPCC is a government cluster overseeing political, diplomatic, and national security concerns.
“The DOE is still waiting for the decision on its requests for reconsideration,” acting presidential spokesperson and Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said in an online press briefing.
Austin and Lorenzana affirmed the vital importance of ensuring peace and stability in the South China Sea, the US Defense Department said.
They agreed to strengthen their MDT commitments through the development of bilateral defense guidelines, enhance maritime cooperation, and improve interoperability and information sharing by exercising new capabilities.
They likewise discussed the importance of acting in unison to condemn Russian aggression and stand behind Ukraine.
The DOE, in an order dated April 6, ordered the suspension of PXP Energy’s exploration activities for Service Contracts 72 and 75, two sites off Palawan province, pending the SJPCC’s approval.
The clearance from SJPCC is a precondition to any oil exploration in WPS, given the “political, diplomatic and national security implications of any activity” in the strategic waters.
Andanar explained that the oil search was deferred in compliance with the SJPCC’s decision.
“The survey was held in abeyance because of the decision of the Security, Justice, and Peace [Coordinating] Cluster or SJPC[C] in the Cabinet,” he said.
Nevertheless, the DOE had already asked for the immediate resumption of activities to explore and exploit resources in WPS, Andanar said.
He also cited the DOE’s argument that a geographical survey in WPS is a “perfectly legitimate activity.”
“The DOE already asked the SJPC to reconsider the decision and to immediately allow the survey. The DOE sought reconsideration on the ground that under international law, a geophysical survey is a perfectly legitimate activity in any disputed area,” Andanar said.