Analysts urge China and Philippines to resume joint energy exploration to reduce South China Sea friction

A joint report by Chinese and Philippine analysts recommends resuming joint oil and gas exploration in the South China Sea as a trust-building measure. The report, published by the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, also suggests cooperation in low-sensitivity areas like marine environmental protection and maritime crime prevention. It argues such collaboration could ease tensions and help address the Philippines' energy needs.

The report was released Monday by the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, a Chinese think tank, and represents a collaborative effort between analysts from both countries. It characterizes the current China-Philippines relationship as being at a delicate juncture, with the authors suggesting that energy cooperation could serve as an initial confidence-building measure between the two nations.

Beyond energy, the report identifies marine environmental protection and maritime crime prevention as additional areas where cooperation could be pursued with lower political risk. The analysts argue that such collaboration could help bridge the trust gap created by the significant disparity in military and economic capabilities between the two countries, while also addressing the Philippines' domestic energy requirements.