Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. said Friday the Philippines was ready to negotiate with China on the joint exploration of oil and fishery resources in the South China Sea after the arbitration court decides on the case Manila has brought against Beijing on July 12. He said the idea was discussed by President Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jinhua during the envoy’s courtesy call on Thursday. “If the Chinese, in respecting the decision of the arbitral tribunal, would like to negotiate within the context of that [decision] along with the other claimants... by all means let’s pursue that,” Yasay said.

Fabunan, S. S. D. (2016, July 9). Joint exploration with China. Manila Standard, p. A3.