At some point now or sooner than later, the claimants in the South China Sea/West Philippine Sea will have to sit down and agree on a seismic and oil exploration program to be fol­lowed by a definitive oil drilling and development schedule for a satisfac­tory commercial petroleum discovery which is anticipated. This should include a detailed and definitive agreement in the event of marginal hydrocarbon discoveries, non-commercial in volume, and must be followed through by a series of exploration activities in the areas with reasonable looking anticlines or likely oil-bearing structures before the areas are given up, or abandoned, or preserved for other uses by suc­ceeding generations. The anticipated agreement should include sharing of explora­tion expense, the more expensive development costs in the event of commercial discovery, distribution of export petroleum to refineries in the Philippines, China, and Vietnam, and/or third-party international buy­ers, and an agreement on a second-round or third-round of exploration areas nearby or in much farther locations.

De Venecia, J. C. Jr. (2019, April 21). A formula for the Philippines, China, and Vietnam in the West Philippine Sea-South China Sea and other participants. Manila Bulletin, p. 14.