The Philippines and China have officially convened an intergovernmental steering committee that will supervise projects under the two nations’ joint oil and gas exploration in the West Philippine Sea. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced yesterday that the Philippines-China Inter-Governmental Joint Steering Committee on Cooperation on Oil and Gas Development held its first meeting in Beijing last Monday. “The committee had a candid, in-depth and friendly exchange on cooperation arrangements under the MOU and agreed to further push forward communication and coordination on oil and gas development, with a view to achieving progress in accordance with the MOU,” the DFA said in a statement.

Lee-Brago, P. (2019, October 31). Phl, China convene steering committee on joint exploration. The Philippine Star, p. 4.