In a not-to-recent speech in Davao City, President Duterte said about China: “China, for all of its, whatever, posturing there is, is also interested in oil,” and concluded that, “So it’s the resources. Eventually, it’s geopolitics.” What the President was basically saying is that China’s presence in Southeast Asian waters is motivated by their need for some sweet, delicious black gold. Although this observation is true, it’s only part of the answer. Yes, oil import-dependent China is most likely looking for oil deposits in the Southeast Asian waters, but that’s not the only reason why the Chinese are fortifying these areas.

Del Rosario, J. J. (2018, June 24). What does China want from Southeast Asian waters?. Panay News, p. 9.