At least three senators are amenable to China’s willingness to conduct a 60-40 joint exploration of natural resources with the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea as bared by Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, but some senatos wanted further study on the offer. Senate President Vicente Sotto III considered China’s recent statement on the possibility of joint exploration as a recognition of the country’s jurisdiction over its exclusive economic zones in the West Philippine Sea. Under existing laws, the Philippines will take a bigger chunk in revenues from the exploration. “Yes, it is [acceptable]. It means China is accepting the fact na lamang tayo,” Sotto. Senator Panfilo Lacson said the sharing is more than acceptable as it complies with what is stated in the Constitution.

Ramos-Araneta, M. (2018, August 2). Senators okay PH-China joint West PH Sea exploration. Manila Standard, p. A3.