President Rodrigo Duterte is open to a joint exploration in the disputed West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) not only with China but also with other “foreign entities,” Malacañang said on Thursday. The President is “open to broader options for partnerships” with other countries. Duterte earlier announced that the Philippines entered into a joint venture agreement with China in extracting mineral and gas resources in the contested waters. The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands had ruled that China has no basis to claim most parts of the disputed waters. Despite the ruling, Duterte said the Philippines will not invoke it because the country is not ready to go to war with a bigger nation.

Valente. C. S. (2017, August 18). Duterte open to joint sea exploration. The Manila Times, p. A2.