Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Representative Leila de Lima has expressed strong opposition to any joint oil and gas exploration with China in the West Philippine Sea unless Beijing first recognizes the Philippines’ rights and respects its sovereignty.
Her statement came in response to the plan of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to pursue a new Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking (JMSU) with China, aimed at exploring potential oil and gas reserves in the disputed waters.
De Lima raised concerns over the proposal, pointing to China’s continued harassment of Filipino fishermen and its refusal to acknowledge Philippine sovereignty.
“Kung hindi kikilalanin ng China ang #AtinAngWPS, kung hindi nito igagalang ang ating soberensya at patuloy na gipitin ang ating mangingisda #NeverToJointExpoloration,” she said.
The first JMSU agreement was signed in 2005 under former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, allowing China to conduct seismic surveys in the West Philippine Sea.
In 2008, former Bayan Muna Party-list Representative Neri Colmenares challenged the deal before the Supreme Court of the Philippines, arguing that it was disadvantageous to the country. The Court later declared the JMSU 1.0 unconstitutional.
While President Marcos has shown openness to reviving the agreement amid the global oil crisis, De Lima maintained that any joint undertaking should only proceed if China first respects Philippine sovereignty.