Both Manila and Beijing has confirmed that Chinese companies will explore, drill, and exploit oil and gas deposits at Recto Bank! This shallow part of the West Philippine Sea (WPS) is only 80 nautical miles (nm) from the shores west of Palawan and well within the 200 nm Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) limit set by the United Nation Convention on the Laws of the Seas (UNCLOS). During his latest visit to China, President Duterte agreed to a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) to “ALLOW EVERYBODY CONNECTED WITH THE CHINESE COMPANIES” to exploit the oil and gas deposits at Recto Bank, also known by its international name as the Reed Bank. Chinese President Xi Jinping told DU30 that China agrees to be a JUNIOR partner in the proposed Joint Venture PROVIDED the Philippines SET ASIDE The Hague Arbitral ruling award that went AGAINST China.

Mana-ay, E. (2019, September 23). Oil and gas from Recto Bank by China. Daily Guardian, pp. 4, 5.