Recently, the Philippines under President Rodrigo R. Duterte announced its plan to pursue "co-owner-ship" or, more accurately the joint exploration, of portions of the South China Sea (also known as WestPhilippine Sea) with China, a year after the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) awarded the Philippines with the ruling that invalidates China's nine-dash lines and artificial island construction. Proposed areas of exploration include the west of the Calamian Islands and Reed Bank, off the waters of Palawan. Unlike the Calamian Islands which are not claimed by China, Reed Bank, which lies within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) as far as the PCA ruling is concerned, is contested by China.

Post Arbitration: Duterte’s joint development and other policy approaches to the West Philippine Sea. (2018, March 13). BusinessWorld, pp. S1/6, S1/7.