China has told the Philippine government not to give up its claim to the disputed South China Sea but simply asked it to put some order on how to discuss that claim so the two countries could pursue a joint oil and gas exploration in the area, Malacañang said Thursday. “They have never asked us to give up our claims. They have simply asked us to put some order in how we will discuss these claims and where we should discuss these claims,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano told reporters.

Barcelo, V. (2018, April 13). PH told not to give up territorial claim vs China. Manila Standard, p. A2.