The Philippine government is planning to revive the joint marine exploration with China and Vietnam in the South China Sea after the undertaking was put on hold this year due to controversies, Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo said Tuesday.
Romulo told a press briefing that the government wants the joint project to be continued next year before proceeding to, possibly, the tripartite marine exploration for crude oil.
Though the foreign secretary did not give details on how the project would be pursued, sources with the Foreign Affairs Department said Manila is looking into the possibility of making it a "corporate activity" to silence the opposing lawmakers and militant groups.
Amid opposition, the Philippine government in August decided not to extend the joint project after its first phrase cooperation undertaking, which started in mid-2005, expired on July 1.
The joint exploration project, covering 142,886 square kilometers in the South China Sea, is aimed at tapping the unknown crude oil reserves in the region.
Source: Xinhua
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