Quangzhou: The Philippines and China are preparing to resume bilateral talks on the South China Sea in Quangzhou, Fujian, China, on March 28, as confirmed by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Friday. The discussions are part of the 11th Philippine-China Bilateral Consultative Mechanism (BCM), held in conjunction with the 24th Philippines-China Foreign Ministry Consultations.
According to Philippines News Agency, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Policy Leo Herrera-Lim stated that both sides are currently working on the agenda for the talks. Herrera-Lim will lead the Philippine delegation, while Chinese Foreign Ministry Vice President Sun Weidong will head the Chinese side. The talks will cover various topics, including progress on the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea.
During this edition of the BCM, Herrera-Lim indicated that the focus would be on exchanging views on developments in the critical waterway since the last meeting, which took place in early 2025. When asked about the potential inclusion of joint oil and gas exploration in the South China Sea as part of the agenda, Herrera-Lim noted that the topic is complex and any discussions would be exploratory.
Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Analyn Ratonel mentioned that the meetings would provide an opportunity to explore cooperation in non-sensitive areas. The BCM, established in 2017, serves as a platform for both countries to discuss South China Sea issues constructively.
The resumption of talks coincides with Manila's efforts to enhance cooperation with Beijing amid the ongoing Middle East conflict, which has significantly disrupted global oil supplies. Herrera-Lim highlighted the possibility of using the energy crisis to develop platforms for cooperation to ensure energy security in the region.
This development follows President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s recent comments suggesting that energy disruptions could be a catalyst to revive oil talks with China. These talks were previously terminated in 2022 due to constitutional limitations.
