The Philippines said Thursday it is in talks with a Chinese state firm for joint South China Sea energy resource exploration and extraction, in a proposed deal described by President Rodrigo Duterte as akin to “co-ownership” of contested areas. The two countries have long been embroiled in a bitter dispute over their competing claims to the region—with China claiming nearly the entire sea—but Duterte has in recent years softened his predecessors’ policy of opposing Beijing’s claims.

Cruz. M. V. (2018, March 2). PH, China firm hold talks on joint oil hunt in SC Sea. Manila Standard, pp. A1, A2.