The Philippines is free to walk out of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) on joint oil and gas development with China if the contents of the document would be found to be against national interests, Malacañang said yesterday. Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo gave the assurance as senators and some groups were demanding full disclosure of the details of the MOU signed during the recent visit of Chinese president Xi Jinping. The Permanent Court of Arbitration based in The Hague voided China’s expansive maritime claim in 2016 but the Chinese government refused to recognize the ruling, which stemmed from a complaint filed by the previous Aquino administration in 2013.

Romero, A., & Lee-Brago, P. (2018, November 23). Phl free to rescind oil deal with China. The Philippine Star, pp. 7, 8.